LOUIS N. JONES

By Darryl Mayes (guest blogger)

The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was a terrible tragedy and should be roundly condemned by every decent-hearted person on this planet.

News reports indicate that the suspect in this murder, Maryland native Luigi Mangione, had some unresolved healthcare issues that precipitated his anger toward the health insurance industry and, subsequently, his decision to allegedly kill an innocent family man in cold blood.

I myself have had some issues with the health insurance industry lately. And though my experiences certainly pale in comparison to others who have undergone much weightier and life-threatening issues, they caused me to identify with Luigi and those like him who believe there are deep problems with the health insurance industry and healthcare in general in the United States.

I recently left a long-time job in which I was receiving health insurance partially paid for by my employer. The total amount of my monthly health insurance deduction was $150.00 per month for one single person. However, several days after my last day on the job, I received a COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) letter offering me the opportunity to continue my health care coverage by paying the full amount of that coverage. Now, it is not surprising to many people, including me, that COBRA coverage is expensive. I expected $500 per month, maybe $600 at the most. Without that COBRA coverage, I would no longer have insurance.

To continue my coverage, the insurance company wanted to charge me $1300 per month. And that was just for one person. So, I can imagine how much it would cost for family coverage. The fact that I would be charged an amount that probably 2/3 of Americans cannot afford to pay is appaling. Is this how much it costs to be able to see a doctor a few times per year?