The words ‘deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose,’ written on bullets found at the scene, evoke a similar rallying cry among many upset with insurance companies

The cryptic inscriptions scrawled on bullets found at the fatal shooting of a UnitedHealth Group executive aren’t just clues of possible motivation left by an assassin. They are also a variation of an angry rallying cry adopted by some people who feel they have been cheated by insurance companies.

The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose”—etched in Sharpie on bullet casings recovered outside the Midtown Hilton after Wednesday’s deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—have focused attention on threats faced by professionals in all levels of the health-insurance industry, from call centers to c-suites, as companies review their security measures and plan to step them up.

The words are familiar to anyone on the front lines of the emotional battles between insurance companies and their customers over coverage issues. Patient support groups commonly use the refrain “deny, delay and defend,” which is meant to summarize cost-driven insurance-company tactics that some customers see as harsh.

It has also become well-known among plaintiffs’ lawyers who sue health, property and casualty insurers on behalf of patients, alleging coverage has been unfairly denied. Many of the lawyers now have the phrase on their websites.

“It’s a common saying,” said Paul Napoli, a plaintiffs’ lawyer who has filed numerous lawsuits against insurers, including UnitedHealthcare. “It’s their modus operandi to figure out the methods and means to deny coverage.” 

The complete article by The Wall Street Journal can be found here.

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