On Dec. 4, 2024, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson was shot and killed in the early hours of the morning. The casings from the bullets that took his life displayed the words “delay, deny and depose.”
These words are in reference to a common phrase used by critics of insurance companies, “delay, deny, defend.” Critics use this phrase to comment on insurance companies’ increasing denial rates and delays in claims.
Twenty-six-year-old Luigi Mangione was arrested on Dec. 6, 2024, in Pennsylvania for charges of stalking and murder in connection to the killing of Thompson. A manifesto, fake identification cards and a 3D-printed gun were found in Mangione’s possession.
In the wake of Mangione’s alleged crimes, many Americans have come face-to-face with two major issues: corruption in the healthcare system and violent extremism.
While polarizing issues are solidifying the division of the political aisle, the shooting of Thompson seems to be a cultural touchpoint that people from different walks of life can relate to.
“The McDonald’s employee who snitched … did you get a raise? Paid time off? HEALTH INSURANCE? Good luck getting the reward money from the nypd,” stated X user @becca_oneal.
O’Neal’s post has over 300,000 likes and 20,000 reposts.
“A lot of you are mass murderers, you just don’t pull the trigger,” said comedian Bill Burr in a Dec. 9, 2024 podcast episode in reference to healthcare CEOs.
Some people also took to commenting on Mangione’s physical appearance.
“Our hero blessing us with his Greek god-like body,” stated @luigi.mangione.fanpage on Instagram.
However, there are strong voices vehemently opposed to the positive press that Mangione is receiving. Right-leaning politicians are taking a stand against pro-Luigi media by labeling the uproar as Marxist brutality.
“We have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder,” said Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner in a public address on Dec. 17, 2024.
It’s important to note that Tisch’s father, James Tisch, is the CEO of the Loews Corporation, a conglomerate that profits from drilling rigs, insurance, gas pipelines and hotels. James Tisch is worth an estimated $1.4 billion and is the son of fellow billionaire Wilma Tisch.
The generational nepotism seen in the Tisch family is not common knowledge, but it is important to mention considering Tisch’s firm opinions on Mangione’s arrest.
Insurance denials are one way the upper class and biased systems work against Americans.
The spotlight on the brutality of insurance companies opens the eyes of those who believe they are not hurt by the systems controlling them. It creates a collective suffering of more Americans than ever before.
This is why Mangione’s alleged crimes speak across race, occupation and social standing. There is a unity in suffering under systems the average person has no control over.
Before the events of Dec. 4, 2024, most Americans had thrown in the towel on the issue of healthcare. According to a late October 2024 New York Times poll, less than 1% of potential voters rated healthcare as their top issue in the presidential election, even though 1 in 3 Americans are in medical debt.
In 2016, healthcare was ranked in the top five reasons Americans were going to the polls.
After Thompson’s murder, there was a notable increase in media discussing how healthcare companies have negatively impacted clients.
Elizabeth Potter, a doctor based in Texas, went to Instagram to discuss her experience with UnitedHealthcare calling during a surgery for a cancer patient.
“During one of the DIEP cases, I was interrupted by a call from United Healthcare — while the patient was already asleep on the operating table. They demanded information about her diagnosis and inpatient stay justification,” Potter stated.
As the initial shockwave of media surrounding Luigi Mangione dies down, the conversation will certainly not fade. Mangione has become a symbol of anger towards systematic violence committed against Americans.
Americans’ view of the healthcare system is polling at its lowest point since 2001. Mangione’s alleged actions seem to reflect this lack of satisfaction and a growing opposition to the for-profit system.
As Mangione’s indictment deadline is set for Feb. 17, one thing is sure– the world will be watching to see how this landmark case plays out.
