UnitedHealth Group CEO: 'We understand people's frustrations' with health

The chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, penned a Friday op-ed in The New York Times acknowledging the frustrations of patients with the insurance industry while defending the character of his employees.

“We know the health system does not work as well as it should, and we understand people’s frustrations with it. No one would design a system like the one we have. And no one did,” Andrew Witty wrote.

“It’s a patchwork built over decades. Our mission is to help make it work better,” he added.

“We are willing to partner with anyone, as we always have — health care providers, employers, patients, pharmaceutical companies, governments and others — to find ways to deliver high-quality care and lower costs.”

United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside of the company’s annual investor conference Dec. 4.

Evidence has emerged that the suspect's motive in the shooting could be linked to anger with the insurance industry.

“We understand and share the desire to build a health care system that works better for everyone. That is the purpose of our organization,” Witty explained.

“Health care is both intensely personal and very complicated, and the reasons behind coverage decisions are not well understood. We share some of the responsibility for that.”

He reaffirmed UnitedHealthcare’s commitment to service and said the company would continue to improve options for individuals with illnesses in honor of Thompson’s legacy.

“The ideas he advocated were aimed at making health care more affordable, more transparent, more intuitive, more compassionate — and more human,” Witty stated.

“That’s Brian’s legacy, one that we will carry forward by continuing our work to make the health system work better for everyone.”

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