The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was shot in broad daylight; this is not entertainment news, but social news. However, oddly enough, many people in American society are cheering, and even the host of Saturday Night Live joked that Americans have two reactions to this news: one is women saying the suspect is really hot, and the other is people criticizing UnitedHealthcare as disgusting, with the audience laughing heartily. The suspect Luigi happens to share the same name as Mario's brother in the Nintendo game, and renowned NFT artist Beeple seems to mock this news by creating an image of a blood-stained Luigi hat.
According to the New York Post, the suspect in the assassination of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare went missing from his family after undergoing back surgery last month. The 26-year-old suspect, Luigi Mangione, was arrested on Monday in Pennsylvania while dining at McDonald's, where employees recognized him as resembling a wanted suspect in a shooting incident that occurred outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan last week.
Who is Luigi Magione
According to multiple news reports, 26-year-old Luigi Magione graduated from the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, majoring in computer engineering. He comes from a wealthy family; his parents own two country clubs in Maryland. He is passionate about fitness, has an eight-pack, and is exceptionally intelligent, even building his own 3D printer. Former FBI agents believe the suspect wants to become an anti-monopoly hero and showcase his remarkable abilities.
Luigi Magione's friend RJ Martin told CNN that he had back problems, making even basic surfing lessons painful, and he was bedridden for a week. According to sources, Magione may have harbored resentment towards UnitedHealthcare due to friction with the company, and his X account features an X-ray showing four pins inserted into his spinal bones.
How bad is private health insurance in the United States
Most Americans believe that health insurance in the U.S. is both expensive and troublesome. There is no universal health insurance in the U.S., and the middle class must purchase insurance out-of-pocket if they need medical care. Even if a company is willing to cover co-pays, individuals still have to pay from their own pockets. The most troublesome aspect is that due to systemic issues, if the doctor one wants to see or the clinic needed for a consultation is not within their insurance company's system, they cannot make an appointment at all. There are many private health insurance companies in the U.S., and while some employers provide health insurance, it may not cover all hospitals and clinics, resulting in paying premiums without being able to see a doctor.
On average, if there is no employer-provided health insurance subsidy, one has to pay at least $477 per month out-of-pocket to buy insurance. Even with employer-subsidized co-pays, one still needs to pay at least $117. Being able to afford insurance does not mean that medical care is free; the costs for registration, consultations, medications, treatments, and hospital stays are not fully covered, and one still needs to pay out of pocket. Most employer-provided health insurance does not necessarily cover dental and vision care, so seeing a dentist or eye doctor requires out-of-pocket payments or the purchase of separate insurance. The American health insurance system is detested by most Americans.
There are various speculations about the motive behind Luigi Magione's murder. His confession reveals his disdain for the insurance system and capitalism. High-achieving students like Luigi Magione, who exhibit left-leaning and anti-social personality traits, often graduate from prestigious schools. They engage in student movements and protests, showing extreme enthusiasm for politics. For instance, previous protests supporting Palestine against Israel spread from Columbia University on the East Coast to Ivy League private schools and state universities across the U.S.
New York has now shockingly turned into dark Gotham, with the CEO of UnitedHealthcare being shot in an execution-style manner. The reaction in American society to this news has been largely devoid of sympathy. Although the American public detests the healthcare system to an extreme, the assassination of a CEO will not change the system. Trump’s desire to eliminate government healthcare subsidies for low-income households means that if this federal budget is cut, more people will be affected. Medical care has become a nightmare for Americans, as they cannot afford treatment costs. The large medical market will continue to be monopolized by wealthy private health insurance companies. This incident has again drawn attention to the corrupt healthcare insurance system in the U.S., raising questions about how the powerful Trump will address the pressing issues in American healthcare insurance.
This article titled 'Assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO: Suspect is a wealthy Ivy League graduate turned American hero idol?' first appeared on Lian News ABMedia.
