My Experience With UnitedHealthcare

Regarding the recent killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Dr Kirk Honda discusses his experiences with United and provides recommendations.

00:00 Dr. Kirk's experience with UnitedHealthcare
17:14 Can we change the system?

December 9, 2024
The Psychology In Seattle Podcast ®

Trigger Warning: This episode may include topics such as assault, trauma, and discrimination. If necessary, listeners are encouraged to refrain from listening and care for their safety and well-being.

[Arcadiadiv]

I have United and I ended up with Sepsis. They refused to pay for antibiotics so I don't die of it. A friend pulled through and payed $1500 and it's the only reason I'm alive.

[ohioskane]

I just retired 3 months ago after 40+ years in practice as a PhD clinical psychologist. United Healthcare is the ONLY insurance that I refused to accept because of their notoriously abusive practices and extremely low reimbursement rates. Yes, of course, murder is wrong. It also shouldn't be surprising that there is a collective "snap" happening in our society.

[Updog]

This is such an important conversation. Why is murder wrong when it’s a CEO killed by a working class guy, but not when it’s countless working class people dying because a CEO denied them the care they paid for?

[dianeroome]

Retired nurse here. What a thoughtful, balanced conversation you presented. I think " profit" needs to be taken out of the system. Health care is expensive enough as it is. Paying a CEO $10 million a year says it all. Spend that on patient care!

[AthenatheHun]

As a therapist, United Health Care was on my NO list for contracting. Thank you so much for covering this. You're the fucking BEST. Bravo Sir

[Vrzel]

Im hoping this is an awakening moment for Americans. I played by the rules, got my education only to find myself in the same situation I was before my education. Still being disrespected by the corporations I am under, not being able to afford health care, or a home and barely able to afford to buy food. Now more than ever corporations are disrespecting us and eating us alive and they're not even trying to hide or pretend like they care anymore.

[coffeelover]

People are frustrated. UHC has killed how many people by denying and delaying treatment.

[ceegee]

I am a therapist and UHC was the WORST. UHC required ridiculous amounts of "concurrent reviews" per WEEK for the same client in rehab! It didn't make any sense and it tied us down at our desks instead of spending that time with clients. Egregious practices. Thanks for this.

[lovelylisa-twkg]

My sister works there. She said it’s terrible. They don’t even get free healthcare either- it’s really expensive. Their pay is extremely low- she’s on public assistance even with a full time job at UHC! They’re greedy on all sides it seems.

[josiedudley]

American Brit here living in the UK. The NHS is far from perfect but they took great care of my husband on more than one occasion. We paid into the NHS when we worked. We are now retired and no longer pay into the NHS but it is free at use service for all residents. I am very grateful for the NHS.

[kmacwatching]

I absolutely love it when Dr. Honda gets into discussions on capitalism and for profit healthcare. He really gets it, he really cares, and it’s so nice to hear influential people speak about this because our politicians and media are paid not to talk about it.

[BootcampBobby_]

People are as moral as the situation they're in allows them to be. So let us design a society where it's easy for people to make good choices. I don't want to live in a world where things come to this.

[rebecavang]

I worked for UHC corporate as a temp and I will never forget what the Department head said during my orientation, “ Yes, we care about the patients but what’s more important is the bottom line” not even an attempt to disguise their motive.

[brigitte]

This is really helpful that so many people are speaking out! If United Healthcare is such a corrupt company this is the exposure they deserve.

[l.a.]

Clinical psychologist in Florida here…endorsing this video 100%. Sadly…

[lr]

Yet half the people in this country voted to get rid of regulations that protect them. Make it make sense.

[margaretr]

Insurance companies and Healthcare, don't belong in the same sentence.

Unwell people shouldn't have to worry about their insurance denying a claim, or cutting them off before their treatment is finished. Nor should they have to go deeply into debt, in order to finish their healthcare treatment.
Possibly losing their home along the way, and putting their family in a lifetime of debt.
What a worry, who can focus on recuperating their health, whilst experiencing so much stress.

There needs to be an overhaul of insurance companies.
And reform of the USA, healthcare, which is one of the best, but not available to all.

Worry free Healthcare, shouldn't be for the wealthy only.
The current system is criminal, but legal.
I hope change, will happen soon.

[nancismith]

My daughter was denied a PET scan because she was unable to get the cheaper scan because she had an implanted defibrillator. She finally was able to get the scan and then they were able to start chemotherapy. She had 3 good months after the chemotherapy was completed. I still miss her every single day!💚

[MzzAnnThrope]

I find it interesting that UHC was under investigation for using AI to deny up to 90% of care. Luigi Mangione was a Master level computer engineer who studied AI and who suffered a spinal injury and watched his mother suffer with neuropathy. It's not hard to understand how this could be a breaking point to someone who fully understood the flaws and malice behind the AI that UHC was using. It's enraging to me as an observer!!

[reena]

Its really frustrating that the media has completely ignored an important question that Dr. Honda brings up: "What SHOULD a patient do when their necessary and life-saving medical care is denied?" I have yet to hear any answer. Forget politicians - their pockets are lined with corrupt payoffs. Most people don't have the means to sue and that will probably get nowhere. So what is the answer?