AIBU to say I'm surprised a healthcare CEO hasn't been assassinated sooner?

[Chowtime]

Obviously what's happened in America with regard to Brian Thompson is awful but surely it was only a matter of time before someone revolted against their billionaire dollar profits and lack of payouts for individuals who've paid in for years.

I thought the same! If they catch the killer I'd love to read the backstory.

Agree it's absolutely awful he was killed and i feel for his loved ones...but I also cannot imagine living in a country where I could end up in poverty and unable to access further treatment due to medical bills and insurance companies refusing to pay for treatment for spurious reasons. In a country where so many people carry weapons, I agree, it is shocking, but not surprising that someone has turned to violence

We were saying the same when the story broke yesterday. Someone with a terminal diagnosis and nothing left to lose.

I'm sure lots of billionaires will be feeling very nervous now.
Not that I am in any way shape or form in favor of vigilanteism but at the same time . . . he really had it coming😬

I could well imagine somebody finding out that their terminal illness is not covered by their insurance, leaving them with a multiple six figure hospital bill... or... you pay a professional about what? $50k? to take the CEO of your provider out.

It's unlikely you'll be caught (although the high profile of the case does make it more likely that they will try) and if you ARE then you go to prison and probably get your treatment there anyway.

I can also imagine a not insignificant number of Americans thinking "Huh? We can just... take them out individually? Ohhhhh....."

Both parties in the US are fully dedicated to supporting the hegemony (if this is the right way to use the word!) of people like Brian Thompson. There is no way to vote to diminish their power, so gradually people WILL start taking practical (if ultimately illogical) steps.

It looked well planned and well researched too.

Also the man was very comfortable with the gun. Didn't panic when it jammed, just rectified it and carried on.

As a PP said, plenty of people with guns in the US .

I agree that it's not particularly suprising that this has happened. How many people get shot every day in the US? Most of them don't make the headlines in the UK. I wasn't aware this man existed until he didn't, but the disgruntled customer/employee/spouse shooting someone dead is a commonplace event in the US.

I guess this is making the news because the man was wealthy therefore must be important, plus the fact it took place in central NYC which surprisingly (to me) is one of the safest places in the US for gun crime.

He was ready to cycle it manually from the moment the first round was shot, so I’d say he knew it was going to work like that. His stance was also telling - dude is either very well practiced, or a professional. He disappeared quickly too.

Police have narrowed the suspect list down to 29 million

First thing I thought when I heard the news was "I wonder what has happened to the shooter for him to target him?" I too automatically assumed that he is someone hurt by the medical industry, either personally, or someone very close to him.

I didn't think "professional" purely because of the lack of gloves, though obviously well prepared to know where he was going to be and get there only 5 minutes early.

The shooter was as cool as a cucumber. Even when he was running away, he wasn’t really running, it was more of a casual jog.

I’ve just read that a phone and bottle of water has been found near the scene which they think may be his. If he wasn’t wearing gloves there may be DNA or fingerprints on them.

My money is on someone with a terminal illness, or someone who has lost a child with a terminal illness, who were on the insurance company’s books and not paid out.

I thought this too OP. The US insurance system is beyond disgusting. I feel sorry for the man killed and his loved ones at a human level. Having said that I thought I read that he was working for Medicare? Who actually provide insurance to older people and younger disabled people. It's all very confusing but the Delay Deny Defend thing on the bullet casings was pretty stark.

Thing is, killing that CEO won't make a single difference for people whose insurance won't pay out. Insurers are not going to change their policies to be kinder to people based on this event. It's plain idiocy to think so. This just means CEOs of health insurance companies and other billionaire bosses will just go around with armed bodyguards and bulletproof vehicles.

There are news reports that the victim allegedly was involved in some financial shenanigans that led to large losses for shareholders of the company (and a huge windfall for the victim).

I think they'll identify the gunman. They already have him on video from earlier in the day in another area of Manhattan.

For all we know his wife opted for what is known colloquially as a "Smith & Wesson" divorce. Time will tell!

There is a short story by Dino Buzzatti where suddenly, one day, the most powerful person in the world drops dead, no foul play, nothing, just dead. And the next week, the 2nd most powerful person drops dead as well, and the week after, the next most powerful person etc. etc.

In a few weeks, most of the world's problems were solved because nobody wanted to be powerful anymore ...

I often dream of this short story.

I don’t think that will be the motive. It seems to be normalised in the US that you get totally screwed by the healthcare system, to the extent that some of those who would benefit most from so-called ‘Obamacare’ (the Affordable Care Act) opposed it.

I'm betting the gunman has watched a love one die because they couldn't get healthcare or has been denied healthcare himself.

I live in the US (originally from the UK) and it's very jarring after you have had a baby or a medical procedure, to have the billing department visit you while you're trying to recover.

I delayed going in to get checked when I suspected my gallbladder was flaring up as I didn't want to face the bills. This resulted in me getting pancreatitis.

We live in a rural area and I worry a lot about needing to call and ambulance in an emergency because of the cost.

Trying to decide which insurance policy to take a gamble on every year is stressful.

And we are in a comparatively good financial situation and can afford good coverage. But there is always the worry- what if insurance doesn't cover this and I have to pay out of pocket?

I'm not surprised this happened.

I thought the same. The US healthcare system is horrendous. It's only surprising this hasn't happened sooner. The rich are just too rich now and poor people are dying of simple illnesses. Perhaps this will give them pause for thought.

A Ticket to Tranai by (absolutely undeservedly) nearly forgotten Robert Sheckley is a genius take on the same topic.

Same. Easy to say in hindsight, but if I were in that job I wouldn't be walking around by myself like that.

I'm not sure it will turn out to be anything to do with healthcare (or lack there of). Usually hits are a result of complicated personal issues or shady business dealings.