UnitedHealth Group's CEO took to social media to call critics of the health care industry outraged by the killing of CEO Brian Thompson “virulent” and “out of touch with reality.” It's not consistent,” he said.
Mr Thompson's boss, Andrew Whitty, did not make the comments public, but rather announced them in a private video for company staff. He has not spoken publicly since the assassination-style killing outside a Manhattan hotel early Wednesday morning.
Independent journalist Ken Klippenstein posted on his Twitter account Whitty's approximately three-minute speech to UnitedHealth staff. substack There is an avalanche of people attacking the health insurance industry on social platforms.
Casually dressed and clearly reading from a script, the witty man said: “We are protecting ourselves from pressure for unsafe or unnecessary care,” denying people critical coverage. He defended his industry against the criticisms of other industries.
His wide-ranging complaint begins by claiming that the company “as always puts our patients, consumers, and members first,” and that its mission is to improve their experience. Mr. Thompson left a legacy of that effort, he argued.
“I have never been more proud of this company, my colleagues, and what this company does for people in need across this country,” he said.
“Please turn off the serious noise we are hearing right now,” he urged, adding: “It does not reflect reality. It is simply a symptom of the times we live in.
“What we have to know is to focus on what we know to be true, and what we know to be true is that we need companies like UnitedHealth Group. And that means we need people like Brian.”
Mr Whitty, a former British pharmaceutical executive who was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth and known in the UK as Sir Andrew Whitty, is facing a Justice Department investigation into allegations of insider trading. The last fully calculated compensation package in 2023 was $25 million. The company denies wrongdoing.
“I would like to give you a little bit of advice regarding the media,” Whitty said. “My strong advice and request to everyone is to not engage with the media. If you are approached, we recommend that you do not respond and refer them to our media organization as appropriate.”
Whitty added: “You've probably seen a lot of media focus on this situation with a lot of misinformation and frankly offensive communication,” adding that the coverage was “offensive and… It was criticized as “inappropriate and disrespectful.”
Representatives for Thompson's UnitedHealth Group and its health insurance arm, UnitedHealthcare, did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast's request for comment on the leaked video.
Following Mr. Thompson's death and the subsequent hunt for his assassin, the company removed his biography from the page that once listed UnitedHealth leadership. The link is now broken.
Thompson was shot to death Wednesday outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan. He was scheduled to speak at an investor conference for his company, one of the world's largest health insurance companies. The killer, who experts suggest was not a professional hitman, escaped on an electric motorcycle and remains at large.
This brazen act of violence and the ensuing investigation have garnered national attention in recent days.
Police said Friday that they believe the suspect, who was reportedly staying at an Upper West Side hostel before the attack, fled the city.
The gunman's motive remains unclear, but police recovered shell casings with the words “denial,” “defense,” and “expulsion” engraved on them. This phrase roughly corresponds to the insurance industry's adage about how to avoid paying claims: “Delay, Deny, Defend.”
The killing sparked a debate about health insurance industry practices, particularly UnitedHealthcare's own past history. deny a patient's medical claims.
Some online reactions to the shootings mocked or praised the killing of the executive. In one popular Reddit thread, which has since been deleted, a user lightly lampooned Thompson's death due to a false insurance claim denial.
“If you wish to dispute the fatal gunshot, please call 1-800-555-1234 with incident number 123456789P and initiate a peer-to-peer within 48 hours of the fatal gunshot,” the user wrote .
