The Daily Populous Thursday December 5th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by cnbc.com and submitted by mriamyam

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Cups mark the location of shell casings found at the scene where the CEO of United Healthcare Brian Thompson was reportedly shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City, US, December 4, 2024. Shannon Stapleton | Reuters

Shell casings found at the scene where the UnitedHealthcare CEO was shot dead by a masked gunman in front of a busy New York City hotel had the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" written on them, a senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation confirmed to NBC News on Thursday. Brian Thompson, 50, was killed in a "premeditated, preplanned targeted attack" outside the New York Hilton Midtown on Sixth Avenue in the heart of Manhattan, police said. He was on his way to speak at UnitedHealth Group's investor conference when the gunman who had been lying in wait for several minutes approached from behind and fired at least once into his back and at least once in the right calf, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told a news conference Wednesday. Police say they don't yet know the motive of the gunman, who they say is still at large.

ABC News was the first to report the words written on the bullet casings. Thompson did not travel with any personal security detail despite known threats against him. "There had been some threats," Thompson's wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News on Wednesday. "Basically, I don't know, a lack of coverage? I don't know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him." Security video showed Thompson, dressed in a blue suit, walking down the street. The gunman approached him from behind and opened fire, it showed. Thompson stumbled forward as a witness ran to safety. The gunman continued to fire as Thompson fell to the ground, the video showed.

Paprikasj on December 5th, 2024 at 14:25 UTC »

For various behavioral conditions my daughter was referred to occupational therapy by her pediatrician. This was after she'd been removed from a school due to behavioral issues, the need was evident.

At the time I had Blue Care Network--they refused to cover OT without a diagnosis. So I went and got a (private, expensive) neuropsychological evaluation for a diagnosis--after a six-month wait for the appointment.

I went back to BCN with my shiny new diagnosis codes and they told me, sorry, they only cover up to five sessions for "home training." I am expected to become my daughter's OT after these five sessions. I have a younger daughter and a full-time job and, most importantly, I am not in any capacity a trained occupational therapist. This is not doable.

I wrote a letter contesting the decision and included letters from the OT, the pediatrician, the neuropsychologist, and the school that kicked her out. I found specific language in my policy that supported OT being covered for my set of circumstances and quoted it. I sent this packet off Certified Mail to the address BCN instructed me to send it to. I waited the appropriate amount of time and checked the certified mail tracking--received and signed for. Great! I waited for a response.

For about a month, I heard nothing. I call to check--they told me to wait two more weeks. I waited and called again--they told me they had no record of me contesting the decision and I'd now run out the clock and could no longer contest. I told them I had certified mail tracking showing that was not true. They said, oh well, not our problem.

So I went to my state's insurance regulatory board and filed a complaint. Lo and behold, within three days, not only do I have a decision, I have coverage and a lovely case manager at the regulatory body to whom I can send any issues whatsoever with BCN. BCN wrote me a very apologetic letter explaining that they "lost" my legally-delivered, tracked packet. My daughter stayed in OT to her great benefit.

A year later, I found I had to contest another decision. I did all the same shit all over again. And once again, BCN "lost" my packet of evidence despite certified mail evidence to the contrary. The only reason I didn't go to my state representative was because shortly thereafter my insurer changed to United--which, in a great cosmic joke, does actually cover OT. It was Delay, Deny, Defend in action. Not one single part of me blames the shooter.

Fuck all insurance companies, everywhere, forever.

ETA: And I think it is EXTREMELY important to note I was only able to appeal decisions because I have a salaried office job with access to printer, fax, etc; a nice boss who doesn't mind if we run errands during the day; a friendly HR manager who was bound and determined to help; education in how to research and write professional correspondence; and MONEY to spend on private-pay appointments, evaluations, and mailing shit; in other words, appealing insurance decisions is a privilege. [ETA again. Also spite! I cannot overstate the value of being good and pissed off and using that energy as fuel]. It took an ungodly amount of time and effort on my part and I know with 100% confidence there are people in greater need than my daughter and I who will never be able to chase down an appeal. It's sick.

ETA again: In Michigan the regulatory board is called the Department of Insurance and Financial Services. S/o to Zoey, my case manager, who lives to rain hellfire on insurance companies.

Jeffreyknows on December 5th, 2024 at 14:08 UTC »

The more I think about this, it’s surprising it doesn’t happen more often. I have a friend with terminal cancer, but, the treatments she receives could prolong her life by months or years. She has 3 children and wants to see them grow up. Insurance straight up told her “the way we see it is that you’re going to die from this anyway, so we are refusing your ($45k a piece) treatments from now on.

fsactual on December 5th, 2024 at 13:50 UTC »

Well at least we know the motive is exactly what we thought it was.