The Blubber

Dr. Zachary Levy shared a social media post that has gone viral, alleging that UnitedHealthcare denied medical claims for one of his patients who is in a coma. Levy stated that the patient, who is in the ICU with a brain hemorrhage, heart failure, and is on a ventilator, had their claim denied because he had not "proven" the care was "medically necessary." Newsweek has reached out to both UnitedHealthcare and Dr. Levy for comment.

The issue underscores growing frustration with the U.S. health insurance system, which has faced intensified scrutiny after the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Thompson was killed in New York, allegedly by Luigi Mangione, who has been charged with his murder and has pleaded not guilty. At the crime scene, investigators reportedly found shell casings etched with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” terms associated with insurance companies’ practices for managing claims and disputes. These details suggest the alleged killer may have had grievances against UnitedHealthcare or the broader insurance industry.

In his post, viewed over 13 million times on X (formerly Twitter), Levy described his frustration with the denial. He shared an email he drafted to UnitedHealthcare, asserting that the treatment was necessary to save his patient’s life. Levy also criticized the broader healthcare system, calling for reform and writing, “Tear it all down.”

The incident has reignited debates about prior authorization requirements, which insurance companies use to approve both routine and lifesaving treatments. This process has been heavily criticized by medical professionals. UnitedHealthcare has previously faced lawsuits over the use of artificial intelligence tools in claim processing, with critics alleging a high error rate that led to patients being denied critical care.

In a press release, UnitedHealthcare defended its practices, stating that it approves and pays about 90% of claims upon submission, and only a fraction of denials are due to medical or clinical reasons. The company described allegations of widespread claim denials as “highly inaccurate and grossly misleading.”

Dr. Levy’s viral post has amplified calls for change, with many professionals and advocates demanding systemic reforms to address inequities and inefficiencies in the current healthcare system. The heightened public discourse is expected to continue in light of these events.