Most Americans think insurance industry bears some blame for CEO killing
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American adults are nearly as likely to blame insurance denials for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as they are to blame the person who shot him, according to new poll data.
The big picture: The reaction to Brian Thompson's killing — and the veneration by some of suspect Luigi Mangione — has revealed a deep distrust of the health insurance industry and its treatment of patients in need of critical care.
- Thompson's Dec. 4 killing prompted rage against health insurers, especially on social media.
By the numbers: 78% of respondents overall said they believed the individual who committed the killing bears "a great deal" or "a moderate amount" of responsibility for Thompson's death.
- 69% attributed some blame to coverage denials by health care companies, and 67% to insurance industry profits.
Between the lines: Americans under 30 in the NORC survey were especially likely to think a mix of factors, and not just the assassin, were to blame for Thompson's death, per AP.
- This aligns with previous polling that found young people were more likely than their elders to say they believe the killing was "acceptable" or "somewhat acceptable."
Zoom out: CEOs in the health care industry and beyond have been seeking additional security after Thompson's killing.
- A majority of poll respondents said they were concerned about potential future violence toward business executives.
Go deeper: 41% of young voters say UnitedHealthcare CEO killing "acceptable": Poll
Methodology: The survey of adults 18+ represents the 50 states and Washington, D.C. It was conducted Dec. 12–16 and has an overall margin of error of ±4.2 percentage points.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the poll was conducted by NORC (not AP and NORC).
