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Sherry Christie's avatar

Any expression of joy or satisfaction at Brian Thompson's murder is disgusting. Are we so caught up in our causes that we forget human beings are involved?

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Kurt Busiek's avatar

Similarly, are insurance companies so caught up in their drive for higher profits that they forget human beings are involved?

The answer to that would be yes, and that's why there's so much emotion tangled up in this situation.

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James Asher's avatar

The bit about writing messages on bullet casings called to mind Nikki Haley’s political shenanigans this past year — when she wrote “Finish Them” on an artillery shell in Israel.

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heydave56's avatar

Even though a close look at "humanity" can be off putting, I always appreciate your columns, Nancy!

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Ran's avatar

> bullets recovered from the battlefield of Perusia […] 40 BC

I had no idea that bullets were so ancient!

It turns out that, per Wikipedia, lead bullets were used in slings long before the invention of firearms; for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3ASling_bullets_BM_GR1842.7-28.550_GR1851.5-7.11.jpg . Which makes sense, but would never have occurred to me.

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W. Michael Johnson's avatar

Nice take on the story of the day. Extra points on "bullet points," even if that seems slightly mean. Humor isn't pretty. I read somewhere that United* was cleaning up its website, deleting the names and any clues to the whereabouts of its other officers. I'll bet that effort is being matched at other insurance companies--maybe companies in general--right now.

* Also my insurer, as of January 1. Knowing nothing, I used a broker to find me a new company when my old one dropped its pharmaceutical coverage. The ripoff is deep and wide.

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Nancy Friedman's avatar

Not only are executives' names being memory-holed, but LinkedIn is abloom with executive-security consultants promoting their services (“now more than ever”). The grift never ends.

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Carol Kino's avatar

What do you want to bet this results in another hike in insurance premiums?

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Dan Freiberg's avatar

Most big companies have life insurance policies on their executives. I assume that UHC will get a big payout for Brian Thompson's death. I wonder if their premiums will rise correspondingly. And, to your point, who ultimately will pay for this?

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Susan C-P's avatar

UHC is my insurer. My choices are limited by the handful that my PCP will accept. So far, I’ve only been denied one treatment and one RX (in favor of a generic), but I get it! *

When I was injured in a fall during work hours onsite, the worker’s compensation insurer denied the treatment claim. I had to get an attorney to dispute it because the process was so convoluted.

Later, I read in a letter to the editor of the local paper from a former insurer attorney that they were told to reject all claims routinely to lower their payment rates. As I suspected!

*I get the anger, not the assassination…

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