UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty spoke out about the company’s claim denials in a video that leaked after the shooting of another CEO from the company. This has caused criticism online about how UnitedHealth evaluates medical claims.
Witty stated that UnitedHealth ensures care is safe and appropriate. The leaked video came out the day after the other CEO was shot in New York City. Reports revealed that the shell casings at the scene had words like “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” on them, which are terms used by critics to describe how insurers deny claims.
Some social media posts claim that UnitedHealthcare has the highest claim denial rate in the industry, but the true extent is unclear. Recent reports show an increase in denials for some patients. One report found that UnitedHealthcare’s denial rate for certain health care services rose in recent years.
After the leaked video, many people criticized Witty online and shared their experiences with the company on social media.
Vocabulary List:
Denial /dɪˈnaɪ.əl/ (noun): The refusal to accept or acknowledge something.
Criticism /ˈkrɪt.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/ (noun): The expression of disapproval based on perceived faults or mistakes.
Evaluate /ɪˈvæl.ju.eɪt/ (verb): To assess or determine the value significance or quality of something.
Appropriate /əˈproʊ.pri.ət/ (adjective): Suitable or proper in the circumstances.
Experience /ɪkˈspɪr.i.əns/ (noun): The knowledge or skill acquired through involvement in or exposure to something.
Extent /ɪkˈstɛnt/ (noun): The range scale or degree to which something is present or can be measured.
