Why a suspected murderer is celebrated like a hero

Even before the police arrested Luigi M., the 26-year-old was celebrated on the Internet as the “Robin Hood” of the 21st century. And that despite the fact that he is said to have shot the boss of the billion-dollar US insurer United Healthcare in the middle of New York. The horror of the crime quickly gave way to the concentrated anger of many people against the American healthcare system and the insurance industry in the USA. And Luigi M., who is accused of murder, was quickly made into a hero.

T-shirts, hoodies, coffee cups and shot glasses with the distinctive face of the murder defendant can now be bought online. The police claimed they feared that Luigi M. would be celebrated as a “martyr and role model” and inspire imitators. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro warned against glorifying the perpetrator and called the attention in the case, especially online, “deeply disturbing as some wanted to celebrate the killer rather than condemn him.”

The internet follows its own rules when it comes to what becomes hype. Events, people and narratives quickly become popular in a very short time and develop their own momentum – regardless of how they are perceived in the analogue world. Nevertheless, the killing of insurance boss Brian Thompson has not only shaken up the USA, but has also exposed desperation over the healthcare system. A debate broke out. Where does the anger come from?

The health system is strongly organized by the private sector. Hospitals and insurance companies in the USA are largely privately owned. Supply and demand play a central role. There is no general, state-organized health insurance like in many European countries. Instead, the system is based on a mix of private insurance and public programs for specific populations.

The U.S. has the highest per capita health spending in the world, according to health data tracker Peterson-KFF. This is due to high drug prices, doctor’s fees and administrative costs. Access to medical care is heavily dependent on insurance. According to official figures, around eight percent of the population is not insured despite progress. There is great inequality: lower-income groups often have less access to good health services.

Medical care in the United States is considered technologically advanced, with cutting-edge research and technology. At the same time, there are clear differences in quality depending on region, hospital and insurance status – many people fall through the cracks and don’t get the help they need.

• Linking to employers: In the US, employees often get their health insurance through their employer, who covers part of the cost. The services vary because the companies cooperate with different insurance companies. If you change jobs or become unemployed, you will no longer have health insurance.
• High co-payments: The insured person’s own contribution to treatment or medication is often very high in the USA. The deductible that the insured person has to pay out of their own pocket each year before the insurance takes over is usually several thousand US dollars.
• No free choice of doctor: Many insurance companies work with a network of doctors and doctors. For treatments in other practices, the insurance only covers a small part of the costs – or does not cover them at all.
• Advance approval for certain treatments: Particularly expensive treatments such as operations or MRI scans, but also aids such as prostheses, must be approved in advance by the health insurance company. This process can slow down – important treatments are therefore delayed. Numerous insurance companies use artificial intelligence to answer these applications.
• Complicated contracts: Because there are so many different insurance providers with diverse offers, it can be difficult to keep track of the insured services. In addition, standard insurance often does not cover dental treatment, and aids such as hearing aids or glasses are often not reimbursed.

The words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” were written on bullet casings recovered from the crime scene. Investigators assume that this is based on a saying that insurance critics used to describe the companies’ strategy: “Delay, deny, defense.” In a manifesto, the arrested man writes of insurance companies that are only focused on profit and “parasites” – he calls United Healthcare by name. The crime took place in the middle of Manhattan – for many a symbol of capitalism par excellence.

Even though the investigation is ongoing, there are indications that the suspected shooter – a graduate of an elite university and the son of a wealthy family – specifically targeted the insurance industry with his crime. Apparently he hit a nerve with some people. According to a survey by the Gallup polling institute, 81 percent of respondents are dissatisfied with the cost of medical care in the USA.

There, a mountain of debt in connection with medical treatments has grown to the tune of billions. Peterson-KFF claims that six percent of all adults have medical debt of more than $1,000, with around one percent of adults having more than $10,000 each. Because of the high costs, many people don’t even go to the doctor and illnesses remain untreated. Many people are frustrated, desperate – and angry.