Health Justice Monitor estimates approximately 200,000 annual deaths in the US potentially representing insurance-related mortality. I would be interested in information from anyone with actual expertise in this area who can review the methodology.

US News reported “For example, an analysis from health policy research organization KFF found that major medical insurers offering plans to individuals via the Healthcare.gov marketplace rejected nearly 1 in 5 in-network claims in 2021. Yet while close to 17% of claims were denied, rates varied drastically among plan issuers, ranging from 2% to 49%.”

“A separate KFF survey also found that people with private insurance are more likely to have denied claims than those with public coverage. Overall, 18% of insured adults said they’d experienced a claim denial in the past 12 months, according to the survey.”

“According to personal finance website ValuePenguin – which used federal data from 2022 to compile in-network claim denial rates by companies offering plans on at least some Affordable Care Act exchanges – UnitedHealthcare denied nearly one-third of claims, topping the list.”

“The frustration evident among people who have had claims denied comes as medical issues can fuel financial hardships such as bankruptcy, and as health insurance costs have generally outpaced inflation.”

I would also note this report from the US Department of Health and Human Services on the consequences of private equity investment i nursing homes citing studies which determined that private equity ownership increases mortality rates by 11%. “Declines in measures of patient well-being, nurse staffing, and compliance with care standards help to explain the mortality effect. Overall, we conclude that PE has nuanced effects with adverse outcomes for a subset of patients.”

As usual, feel free to disagree using this contact link. My world view is a hypothesis, not a belief.