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Why Support for Luigi Mangione Disturbs Me So Much

And why it should disturb you, too

Bebe Nicholson
Publishous

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Man in hoodie sitting on a bench overlooking the city. https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-sitting-on-bench-1666779/ Free use

For an entire year, my husband and I wrangled with the health insurance industry. We had been erroneously billed for someone else’s visit to the emergency room. Despite different social security numbers and different middle names, the harassment continued. We called numerous people, both at the hospital and the insurance agency, to get the bill dismissed, only to have a collection agency contact us.

Eventually, the matter was resolved. We were persistent. But it made me realize how difficult it must be for someone who is sick and unable physically or emotionally to deal with mounting bills and claims denials.

This year, we changed insurance companies, dropping United Healthcare in favor of a different insurance provider. Their rates were going up, and they had denied certain claims we felt should have been covered. We’re lucky to have good health insurance options through both Medicare and my husband’s former teaching job, but not everyone is so fortunate.

I don’t know what sort of angst Luigi Mangione went through prior to his decision to resort to murder. I read that he had a debilitating medical condition. But for whatever reason, on December 4, 2024, he stalked Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of United Healthcare…

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