This website collects cookies to deliver better user experience. Cookie Policy
Accept
Sign In
The Wall Street Publication
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Reading: Opinion: Response to killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO is a name for reform
Share
The Wall Street PublicationThe Wall Street Publication
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.
The Wall Street Publication > Blog > U.S > Opinion: Response to killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO is a name for reform
U.S

Opinion: Response to killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO is a name for reform

Editorial Board Published December 19, 2024
Share
Opinion: Response to killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO is a name for reform
SHARE

 

The stunning killing of UnitedHealthcare’s chief government, Brian Thompson, reopened a nationwide wound inflicted by the delay and denial of well being protection to numerous Individuals.

This was a violent crime that gained’t remedy something. However the ensuing natural and spontaneous outpouring of populist anger underscored what number of Individuals have been cruelly and unjustly denied medical therapy.

After an election that confirmed widespread discontent with the established order, this ought to be a wake-up name for Washington. Regardless of progress on healthcare protection and rights, defending American sufferers is unfinished enterprise.

Within the Nineties, California pioneered a sufferers’ rights motion that gave these coated by HMOs a proper to second opinions, impartial medical critiques of protection denials and assured protection of sure generally denied procedures. Many states adopted California’s mannequin, and President Obama’s Inexpensive Care Act took necessary steps to insure the uninsured and forestall firms from denying protection to individuals who need it.

However America’s sufferers by no means obtained equitable entry to justice when claims are denied. Individuals who purchase their very own insurance coverage or get it via a authorities job or program resembling Medicare have the suitable to sue for damages in the event that they consider they’ve been harmed by an unreasonable denial. However most of us get medical insurance via our jobs and don’t have any such proper to go to court docket, regardless of how outrageous the denial or tragic the implications. Greater than 100 million Individuals don’t have any authorized recourse if a medical insurance firm messes up our declare.

Within the 1987 case Pilot Life Insurance coverage Co. vs. Dedeaux, the Supreme Court docket dominated that folks with employer-provided protection shouldn’t have a proper to sue their insurer for damages however moderately just for the worth of the denied profit. If the coated individual dies, any swimsuit is rendered moot.

Regardless of many makes an attempt to alter this, together with via Obamacare, the ruling has stood. That’s why insurance coverage firms usually act as if they’ve a license to kill: They face scant authorized penalties for any hurt they trigger by delaying or denying cost for wanted care.

A 17-year-old Los Angeles resident, Nataline Sarkisyan, grew to become a poster baby for addressing this injustice. Nataline, who had recurrent leukemia, needed to wait too lengthy for insurance coverage approval of a liver transplant that docs thought of more likely to save her life. Her mom, Hilda Sarkisyan, protested with nurses on the headquarters of their medical insurance plan, Cigna. When the corporate lastly authorised the surgical procedure below stress, it was too late: Nataline died in 2007, hours after the approval was granted. And due to the Pilot Life choice, the household had little authorized recourse.

The Sarkisyans have crusaded to have the Pilot Life ruling overturned and to spare others their daughter’s destiny. Congress has made it simpler to acquire protection however has but to offer sufferers the leverage they want as soon as they’ve insurance coverage: the suitable to gather damages from firms that behave horribly.

This shouldn’t be onerous. Congress — whose members do take pleasure in a proper to sue over denials of their very own medical insurance claims — has many choices for limiting the extent of insurers’ publicity to lawsuits, resembling making them liable solely once they present gross indifference to a affected person’s struggling.

Insurance coverage firms take note of whether or not sufferers can take them to court docket. No less than one firm, Aetna, even had a coaching tape exhibiting easy methods to course of claims in another way for these with and with no proper to sue.

If insurance coverage firms don’t have any authorized incentive to approve a declare, they may too usually deny or delay it. It’s time for Congress to revive the opportunity of justice for hundreds of thousands and reply the pressing requires reform.

Jamie Court docket is the president of the nonprofit Shopper Watchdog. ©2024 Los Angeles Instances. Distributed by Tribune Content material Company.

TAGGED:callCEOKillingOpinionreactionreformUnitedHealthcare
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Having a Christmas gathering this yr? The feast will value extra this yr Having a Christmas gathering this yr? The feast will value extra this yr
Next Article Dressing Tall: How American Tall is Revolutionizing Vacation Fashion for Vertically Gifted Guys | Fashion Dressing Tall: How American Tall is Revolutionizing Vacation Fashion for Vertically Gifted Guys | Fashion

Editor's Pick

Nicki Minaj Calls Cardi B’s Daughter ‘Ugly’; Cardi Shoots Again That Nicki’s Son Is Nonverbal Because of Drug Use Throughout Being pregnant

Nicki Minaj Calls Cardi B’s Daughter ‘Ugly’; Cardi Shoots Again That Nicki’s Son Is Nonverbal Because of Drug Use Throughout Being pregnant

Studying Time: 3 minutes The Nicki Minaj vs. Cardi B beef has been occurring for years. Like, mainly for so…

By Editorial Board 4 Min Read
The Seasonal Reset: 38 Simple Fall Updates for Max Coziness
The Seasonal Reset: 38 Simple Fall Updates for Max Coziness

The primary crisp morning of fall at all times seems like a…

8 Min Read
BMW recollects almost 200K autos as a consequence of fireplace danger, says house owners ought to park exterior
BMW recollects almost 200K autos as a consequence of fireplace danger, says house owners ought to park exterior

Try what's clicking on FoxBusiness.com. Practically 200,000 BMW house owners are being…

3 Min Read

Oponion

Garmin launches 0 health-tracking arm band for put on throughout sleep

Garmin launches $170 health-tracking arm band for put on throughout sleep

(Bloomberg/Samantha Murphy Kelly) — Garmin Ltd. on Wednesday launched an…

June 18, 2025

Incompetent Democrats now blaming Americans for their mess

OPINION: It was inevitable. So desperate…

October 20, 2021

7 Greatest Shampoos For Males With Thick Hair In 2024 | Fashion

FYI After continued analysis, we discovered…

September 18, 2024

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Share Christmas Card, Pics of Youngsters

Meghan and Harry have unveiled their…

December 16, 2024

Prime Republican in Colorado Senate resigns to take personal sector job

The highest Republican within the Colorado…

June 9, 2025

You Might Also Like

San Jose Sharks unable to decelerate Utah Mammoth in preseason finale
U.S

San Jose Sharks unable to decelerate Utah Mammoth in preseason finale

The San Jose Sharks completed up the preseason schedule on Saturday evening in opposition to the Utah Mammoth in Salt…

5 Min Read
Pop star turned militant Fadel Shaker surrenders to Lebanese navy
U.S

Pop star turned militant Fadel Shaker surrenders to Lebanese navy

By Bassem Mroue | Related Press BEIRUT — A Lebanese pop star turned wished Islamic militant handed himself over to…

3 Min Read
Choose blocks Trump from sending troops to Portland
U.S

Choose blocks Trump from sending troops to Portland

Related Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal choose in Oregon has quickly blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from deploying…

1 Min Read
Highschool soccer in photos: Our workers’s finest photographs of Week 6, 2025
U.S

Highschool soccer in photos: Our workers’s finest photographs of Week 6, 2025

See a photograph you want? Click on right here to see these and extra and to buy high-quality prints or…

9 Min Read
The Wall Street Publication

About Us

The Wall Street Publication, a distinguished part of the Enspirers News Group, stands as a beacon of excellence in journalism. Committed to delivering unfiltered global news, we pride ourselves on our trusted coverage of Politics, Business, Technology, and more.

Company

  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability

Term of Use

  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices

© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?