UnitedHealthcare Denies Coma Patient's Claim, Sparks Outrage by Deleting Post

A recent post by Dr. Zachary Levy on X (formerly Twitter) has gone viral, sparking widespread discussion. In his post, Dr. Levy claimed that UnitedHealthcare had denied an insurance claim for one of his patients who is in critical condition. According to Dr. Levy, the patient is in the ICU with a brain hemorrhage, in a coma, on a ventilator, and experiencing heart failure.

"They rejected the claim, stating I haven’t sufficiently demonstrated that her hospitalization was 'medically necessary.' Tear it all down," Dr. Levy wrote, voicing his frustration over the decision.

This post has gained traction amidst growing criticism of UnitedHealthcare for its high rate of claim denials. The company has been under increased public scrutiny, especially following the shocking death of its CEO, Brian Thompson, on December 4. Thompson was fatally shot in New York by Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old who allegedly targeted him to protest the insurance industry. Although Mangione was not a UnitedHealthcare customer, he reportedly chose Thompson as a symbol of the industry. Mangione has entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charges.

Dr. Levy also posted the letter he sent to UnitedHealthcare to advocate for his patient's case. In the letter, he emphasized the necessity of the patient’s ICU care to save their life. The letter read, "I am writing on behalf of my patient to confirm the medical necessity of their being placed on a ventilator in the ICU to treat brain hemorrhage, cerebral edema, and respiratory failure. This treatment was critical to prevent their death during this hospital visit."

As the post circulated, users shared their own stories of battling denied claims by UnitedHealthcare. One user recounted their experience from 2016, when their claim was denied during treatment for stage 3 cervical cancer. "Their explanation was that my diagnosis was due to an accident. I called to ask how cancer could be considered accidental, and the agent acknowledged it was a mistake made by their third-party reviewers, who deny most claims initially. They later apologized," the user shared

Some, however, defended the insurer, suggesting the incident might have been a bureaucratic error or a misunderstanding. Others shifted focus to broader systemic issues, pointing out how high hospital costs often contribute to claim denials. One commenter remarked, "If hospital fees weren't so inflated, more claims might be approved. The system is broken on multiple fronts."

Additionally, a former UnitedHealthcare employee claimed that the company trained staff on strategies to deny claims but offered no training on how to approve them. UnitedHealthcare, however, disputes these allegations. The company stated, "Approximately 90% of claims are approved and paid upon submission. Of the small percentage that require additional review, only a very small portion are denied for medical reasons. The claims circulating on social media about our practices are highly inaccurate and misleading."

UnitedHealthcare has also faced legal challenges. In one case, the company was accused of relying on artificial intelligence tools to evaluate claims, which reportedly led to a 90% error rate and left many patients without access to lifesaving care.

Dr. Levy’s X account has since been deleted, but his post has reignited debates about the U.S. healthcare system. Many are calling for reforms to address the inefficiencies and inequities in the current system.

The insurance company has yet to comment specifically on Dr. Levy’s claims. However, in a recent press release, UnitedHealthcare reiterated its commitment to processing claims accurately and efficiently, while pushing back against what it described as “grossly misleading” information circulating online.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)