United Healthcare Denies Claim of Woman in Coma

A social media post from Dr. Zachary Levy that said UnitedHealthcare denied the claims of one of his patients, who is in a coma, has gone viral.

Newsweek has reached out to United Healthcare via email and Levy via social media for comment.

Why It Matters

Many Americans have expressed frustration with the health insurance system, which was brought into focus when UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in New York, allegedly by Luigi Mangione, who has been charged in connection with the homicide and is awaiting trial. Mangione pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges.

A general view outside the United Healthcare corporate headquarters on December 4, 2024. A viral post on social media from Dr. Zachary Levy said that United Healthcare denied the claims of one of his patients,... Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

In the aftermath of Thompson's killing, the health insurance industry is under intense scrutiny, and many have called for reforms to the system, with some executives vowing to look at changes to the industry.

At the scene of the crime, shell casings were located by the police, with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose," carved into them. This indicating the killer likely had a vendetta against UnitedHealthcare or the insurance industry, as the words are associated with the industries legal and administrative strategies in managing claims and disputes. They reflect a pattern where the company might deny claims, defend its decisions in legal or regulatory challenges, and depose claimants or witnesses in related litigation.

What To Know

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, which has been viewed more than 13 million times, Levy said that United Healthcare denied the claim of one of his patents in the ICU.

Levy said that his patient is suffering from a brain hemorrhage, is in a coma, on a ventilator and has heart failure.

Levy said that the claim was denied "Because I haven't proven to them that caring for her in the hospital was "medically necessary."

Commenting on his post, Levy shared an email he drafted to share to UnitedHealthcare. In the letter, he said the patient's treatment "Was medically necessary to prevent them from dying."

Many insurers require prior authorization for routine and lifesaving treatments. This is a procedure that doctors and patients have criticized and questioned. UnitedHealthcare was previously involved in a lawsuit in which the company was accused of using an artificial intelligence tool that led to a 90 percent error rate. This caused care to be denied for many as patients were unable to afford lifesaving care.

What People Are Saying

UnitedHealthcare, which has not commented publicly on Levy's post, said in a press release on its website December 13: "UnitedHealthcare approves and pays about 90 percent of medical claims upon submission. Importantly, of those that require further review, around one-half of one percent are due to medical or clinical reasons. Highly inaccurate and grossly misleading information has been circulated about our company's treatment of insurance claims."

Dr. Zachary Levy said in a post on X: "Tear it all down," in what appears to be a reference to the U.S. healthcare system, of which many professionals have advocated for reform.

What's Next

As Thompson's killing has put conversations about health care firmly into the spotlight, it is likely that discourse about the industry will continue over the coming months.

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