NEW YORK, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. health insurance companies continue to face a wave of anger from many of their customers, along with praise for the killer of one of the industry's most prominent leaders -- it is a new level of criticism that stretches back to before the passage of 2010's Affordable Care Act, which made major changes in the rules around health coverage.
"Most people who work in health plans believe they are supporting action for patients, but it's clearer than ever that the American public doesn't necessarily see it that way," Sachin H. Jain, the CEO of SCAN Group, a nonprofit insurer, was quoted on Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) as saying. "There's a broader reckoning."
A wash of online memes suggested the killing UnitedHealthcare's chief executive Brian Thompson was justified and threatened similar treatment for other health insurance CEOs. One social-media screenshot making the rounds among health-insurance executives showed a poster that read, "Wanted, Dead or Alive," with the last word crossed out, and a list of names and pictures of top industry executives.
"Leaders of smaller insurers who never worried about their safety before now have 24-7 security details," said the report. "Executives at many insurers refused to allow their names to be used in this article, saying they didn't want to draw more attention in a volatile time."
The industry has long been the focus of harsh scrutiny. Fourteen years ago, then President Barack Obama amplified allegations that an insurer was dropping coverage of women with breast cancer, which the company disputed. The following year, a group of protesters temporarily halted the shareholder meeting of insurer Aetna, shouting and carrying signs and bullhorns.
The 2010 Affordable Care Act attempted to ease many of the pain points that were prominent at the time. In addition to expanding coverage to more people, the law banned insurers from refusing to cover people with pre-existing health conditions. It blocked insurers from setting maximum payouts for care and required many plans to cover a list of significant minimum health benefits.
The law didn't impose broad restrictions on processes such as prior authorization, in which insurers require patients and doctors to get permission before getting medical procedures. Many online critics now argue that insurers block access to needed care to save money.
