A demonstrator holds up a sign while waiting for the arrival of Luigi Mangione for his arraignment at Manhattan Criminal Court, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah) Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger, according to a new poll. In the survey from NORC at the University of Chicago, about 8 in 10 U.S.
adults said the person who committed the killing has 'a great deal' or 'a moderate amount' of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of the 26-year-old suspect charged with Thompson's murder, as a heroic figure in the aftermath of his arrest, which gave about insurance companies. Police say the words 'delay,' 'deny' and 'depose' were scrawled on the ammunition investigators found at the scene, echoing a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. About 7 in 10 adults say that denials for health care coverage by insurance companies, or the profits made by health insurance companies, also bear at least 'a moderate amount' of responsibility for Thompson's death. Younger Americans are particularly likely to see the murder as the result of a confluence of forces rather than just one person's action. The poll finds that the story of the slaying is being followed widely. About 7 in 10 said they had heard or read 'a lot' or 'some' about Thompson's death. Multiple factors were seen as responsible. About half in the poll believe that at least 'a moderate amount' of blame is rooted in wealth or income inequality, although they did not think other factors like political divisions in the U.S. held the same level of responsibility. Patients and doctors often complain about coverage denials and other complications interfering with care, especially for serious illnesses like cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or AL