July, 24 2020, 12:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Mike Stankiewicz, mstankiewicz@citizen.org, (202) 588-7779
David Rosen, drosen@citizen.org, (202) 588-7742
UnitedHealth, Too Busy With Profits, Leaves Coronavirus Patients in the Dark
Statement of Eagan Kemp, Health Care Advocate, Public Citizen
WASHINGTON
Note: UnitedHealth Group Inc., which recently reported its most profitable quarter in history, is scheduled to end today its offer for free coronavirus care for enrollees, despite the rising incidence of the virus in many parts of the country. Earlier this year, many insurers announced that they would waive out-of-pocket costs for coronavirus care, with caveats, with most offers originally scheduled to end in June or July. Following a Public Citizenreport, most of these insurers extended the deadlines for these waivers.
Apparently, these insurers are too busy counting their unconscionable profits to inform their enrollees whether the cost of patients' coronavirus care is still covered. Couldn't UnitedHealth have used any of their $6.6 billion in profits to extend their offer indefinitely and reassure their enrollees that they won't face financial hardship - especially as many Americans fear seeking treatment for the virus due to costs?
The confusion enrollees are experiencing during this historic pandemic underscores how unethical and unnecessary for-profit private insurers are, and why we need Medicare for All. These companies put profit over patient needs during the best of times, and profit from them even more during the worst of times.
I honestly don't know how UnitedHealth executives sleep at night, but I assume pillows filled with cash certainly help.
Public Citizen is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. We defend democracy, resist corporate power and work to ensure that government works for the people - not for big corporations. Founded in 1971, we now have 500,000 members and supporters throughout the country.
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