Poll Finds 8 in 10 Adults Blame UHC CEO's Killer, 7 in 10 Cite Insurance Profits and Denials

Dec 27, 2024, 07:00 PM

A new poll from NORC at the University of Chicago reveals that most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, though not as much as the person who committed the act. The poll found that about 8 in 10 U.S. adults attribute a great deal or a moderate amount of responsibility to the individual who shot Thompson on December 4. However, around 7 in 10 adults also believe that insurance companies' profits and denials of health care coverage bear at least a moderate amount of responsibility for the CEO's death. UnitedHealthcare reported more than $16 billion in profit last year. Younger Americans, particularly those under 30, are more likely to view the murder as resulting from a combination of factors, including insurance practices and wealth inequality, rather than solely the actions of the shooter, Luigi Mangione. The poll also highlights widespread frustration with health insurers, with about 3 in 10 Americans reporting issues with coverage in the past year.