Opinion: Why We Must Reject the Socialist Agenda for Universal Healthcare and Demand Accountability Instead

Indianapolis, Indiana: The push for universal healthcare in the United States has gained momentum in recent years, with progressives touting it as a solution to the nation’s healthcare woes. However, the tragic death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, after being targeted by the lone vigilanteLuigi Mangione. Instead of embracing government-run healthcare, we must demand accountability from corporations that have profited off the suffering of innocent Americans.

A Call for Accountability

The focus of any healthcare reform should not be the expansion of government bureaucracy but rather ensuring that corporations responsible for health insurance operate with transparency and accountability. Major insurers like UnitedHealthcare rake in billions in profits while allegedly denying legitimate claims, leaving countless Americans to bear the devastating consequences.

When a company’s practices lead to the loss of life, it should not be treated as mere “business as usual.” Denial of life-saving treatments and services must be viewed for what it is—negligence, manslaughter, or even murder in some cases. A lack of accountability has emboldened these corporations to prioritize profits over patients, with little fear of repercussions. This cannot continue.

Universal Healthcare: A Trojan Horse for Socialism

Proponents of universal healthcare often paint it as a cure-all for systemic issues in healthcare, but what they fail to acknowledge is the risk of creating a socialist system that stifles competition and innovation. Government-controlled healthcare may initially sound appealing, but it ultimately shifts power to an even larger, more unaccountable entity—the federal government. History has shown us that socialism, in any form, diminishes personal freedoms and creates inefficiencies that harm the very people it claims to protect.

Consider this: if major private corporations fail to manage healthcare ethically, what makes anyone believe a bloated, bureaucratic government will do better? Expanding the government’s role in healthcare doesn’t solve the underlying issue of greed and mismanagement; it simply changes the face of the problem while stripping Americans of choice.

Real Solutions

To truly fix our broken healthcare system, we need to focus on real solutions that ensure accountability without handing over the reins to the government:

1. Criminal Charges for Negligence: Health insurance companies that deny legitimate claims, particularly those involving life-saving care, must face criminal charges. Whether it’s negligence, manslaughter, or murder, companies must be held liable for the human cost of their decisions.

2. Enforce Transparency Requirements: Insurance companies should be required to publicly disclose their claims approval and denial rates. Americans deserve to know how often insurers deny claims and the reasons behind these denials.

3. Strengthen Consumer Protections: Expand legal protections for patients to sue insurance companies for wrongful claim denials. Current laws often shield insurers from meaningful consequences, which must change.

4. Promote Free-Market Competition: By encouraging competition among insurers, we can create a system where companies are incentivized to provide better services at lower costs. A competitive market, coupled with strong oversight, will foster innovation and accountability.

5. Streamline Medicare and Medicaid Oversight: Even government-run programs like Medicare and Medicaid are plagued by inefficiencies and fraud. Reforms should target waste and abuse in these programs, ensuring that funds are used responsibly.

Justice for the Victims

The tragedy involving Luigi Mangione serves as a somber reminder of the human toll taken by unchecked corporate greed. But it should also be a rallying cry for justice. While Mangione’s actions cannot be condoned, his anguish reflects the frustration of countless Americans who feel abandoned by a system that prioritizes profits over lives.

It is time to send a clear message to these corporations: If you deny someone the care they need to survive, you will face the full weight of the law. This isn’t just about reforming healthcare—it’s about ensuring that no more families have to endure the heartbreak caused by unethical business practices.

We must resist the temptation of a government-run system and instead build a healthcare framework rooted in accountability, competition, and transparency. The health and lives of Americans depend on it.