The Rage and Glee That Followed a C.E.O.’s Killing Should Ring All Alarms
The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk did not provoke the response that corporate America might have expected. There was no outpouring of grief for a fallen executive. There was no collective mourning. Instead, there was rage. There was glee. And for anyone paying attention, that response should ring every alarm bell in the country.
In the days and weeks following Thompson’s death, social media erupted with dark humor. “Request for thoughts and prayers denied,” read one viral post. “You failed to get prior approval for having an object removed from your chest, so therefore, it will not be covered,” mocked another. A fake press release claiming UnitedHealthcare would suspend prior authorization requirements in the wake of its CEO’s death circulated widely before being debunked.
This was not a fringe reaction from a radical few. Polling data confirms that a significant portion of Americans—across party lines, across income levels, across regions—share the underlying sentiment. And that sentiment should terrify anyone who believes in the stability of the American social contract.
The Polling Data: America’s Verdict on the Healthcare System
According to a NORC at the University of Chicago poll conducted in December 2024, about 8 in 10 U.S. adults said the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility. However, about 7 in 10 adults also said that denials for health care coverage by insurance companies or the profits made by health insurance companies bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death.
Perhaps most telling: 4 in 10 Americans believe the killing was acceptable because the health insurance system is broken. Among younger adults, that number rises to nearly 6 in 10.
According to KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), roughly 3 in 10 Americans say they have had a problem getting coverage from their health insurer in the last year—whether problems finding a suitable provider in-network, a claim getting denied, or issues getting prior authorization.
These are not abstract complaints. They are lived experiences of millions of Americans who have faced medical debt, delayed care, or outright denial of treatment recommended by their physicians.
Why So Many Celebrated: The Broken Trust
The glee that followed Thompson’s death was not really about the man. It was about what he represented: a system that millions believe profits from human suffering.
As Vox reported, many Americans “expressed little sympathy for the victim” because “the health insurance industry has caused so much suffering that some people see even a violent act against one of its leaders as justified.”
UnitedHealthcare made more than $16 billion in profit before interest and taxes on $281 billion in revenue in 2024. Meanwhile, the company has been accused of systematically denying claims to increase its bottom line.
A ProPublica investigation found that UnitedHealthcare used an automated system to deny post-acute care claims at rates significantly higher than its competitors, often overriding the recommendations of physicians. The investigation revealed that UnitedHealth’s own internal data showed that its automated system had a 90% error rate—yet the company continued to use it to deny care.
The “Delay, Deny, Depose” Motto
The ammunition used in the killing had the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” scrawled on them—a phrase commonly used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims. The phrase is a reference to the book Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It by Jay M. Feinman.
According to Commonwealth Fund, insurance companies deny an average of 17% of in-network claims, with some carriers denying more than 30%. The same analysis found that consumers appeal denials at very low rates, and when they do appeal, insurers uphold their original denials roughly half the time.
For most Americans, fighting a denied claim means navigating a complex bureaucracy while already sick, stressed, and financially strained. Many simply give up—which is precisely what insurers count on.
A Crisis of Legitimacy
The public reaction to Thompson’s killing represents a crisis of legitimacy for the entire healthcare industry. When a significant portion of the population views the murder of a corporate executive as understandable—if not justified—something has gone terribly wrong.
According to Gallup, only 28% of Americans say the quality of healthcare in the U.S. is “excellent” or “good”—the lowest rating in more than two decades. Additionally, 72% of Americans rate the U.S. healthcare system as being in a state of crisis or having major problems.
A separate Gallup poll found that 80% of Americans are dissatisfied with the cost of healthcare in the United States—the highest level of dissatisfaction Gallup has ever recorded on this measure.
According to CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), total U.S. health spending reached $4.5 trillion in 2025, representing 18% of GDP. The U.S. spends nearly twice as much per person on healthcare as other wealthy nations, yet has lower life expectancy, higher rates of chronic disease, and worse access to primary care.
The Disconnect Between Executives and Patients
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Thompson’s widow described him as a “loving, generous, talented man.” She also acknowledged that he had received threats related to a “lack of coverage.”
This disconnect—between how executives see their work and how patients experience it—lies at the heart of the rage. According to Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), “There are no unsolvable problems” if Americans unite to demand a national health program that puts patients before profits.
Dr. Carol Paris, a healthcare activist and vice president of PNHP, wrote: “In their anger, have some people overstepped the bounds of moral decency? Yes. That’s something people do when they are chronically anxious about going into medical debt, and always vulnerable to the whims of a health insurance industry that profits from denying them care.”
The Response from the Industry
Health insurers have largely responded to the killing by decrying violence while ignoring the underlying grievances. UnitedHealthcare stated that Mangione was never a client of the company and said that “prior authorizations help eliminate waste and let people know whether care will be covered before it is delivered.” The company claims that less than 2% of its customers experience a denial of care from prior authorizations annually.
Critics argue that even a 2% denial rate represents hundreds of thousands of people being denied care. And that figure does not include denied claims after care has already been delivered.
According to Mercer, employer health benefit costs are projected to rise another 6.7% in 2026, the highest increase in 15 years. As costs rise, insurers have even more incentive to deny claims to protect their profits.
What This Means for Employers
The public rage exposed by this case has direct implications for employers who sponsor health plans. Employees are frustrated with rising costs, confusing benefits, and denied claims. Employers who ignore these frustrations do so at their own risk.
Conduct a benefits audit to understand where your healthcare dollars are going. Add navigation and advocacy services to help employees challenge unfair claim denials. Review PBM contracts to ensure transparency. Consider self-funding to access claims data that reveals waste.
Employers who take proactive steps to improve their health plans will be better positioned to retain employees and protect their organizations from the kind of rage that has become so visible in American society.
For a quick assessment of your benefits strategy, take this free 5-question mental health check.
Conclusion: Alarms That Cannot Be Ignored
The rage and glee that followed a C.E.O.’s killing should ring all alarms—not just for healthcare executives, but for anyone who believes in the stability of American society. When a significant portion of the population views the murder of a corporate leader as understandable, the social contract is fraying.
Whether Americans will channel that rage into constructive reform—or whether it will continue to fester and erupt in unpredictable ways—is an open question. But one thing is certain: ignoring it is no longer an option.
As Dr. Carol Paris wrote: “The outrage had been building for decades. It was only a matter of time before something broke.”
That something has broken. Now comes the hard work of rebuilding.
Please note: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Key Takeaways
- 8 in 10 Americans hold the shooter responsible for Thompson’s death, but 7 in 10 also blame insurance company profits and coverage denials
- 4 in 10 Americans believe the killing was acceptable because the health insurance system is broken; among younger adults, that number rises to nearly 6 in 10
- The ammunition used had “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” scrawled on them—a phrase describing how insurers avoid paying claims
- UnitedHealthcare made $16 billion in profit in 2024 on $281 billion in revenue
- ProPublica found UnitedHealthcare used an automated system to deny post-acute care claims with a 90% error rate
- Only 28% of Americans rate the quality of U.S. healthcare as “excellent” or “good”—the lowest in two decades
- 80% of Americans are dissatisfied with the cost of healthcare—the highest level ever recorded by Gallup
- Roughly 3 in 10 Americans have had a problem getting coverage from their health insurer in the last year
- U.S. health spending reached $4.5 trillion in 2025 (18% of GDP)—nearly double other wealthy nations
- Employers can take action now through benefits audits, navigation services, PBM contract review, and self-funding
- Crisis support: Call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)
- Resources: KFF, Commonwealth Fund, ProPublica, PNHP
This comprehensive guide was published on May 21, 2026. Sources include NORC at the University of Chicago, KFF, ProPublica, Vox, Commonwealth Fund, Gallup, CMS, Mercer, and Physicians for a National Health Program.
