UnitedHealth expects to break financial records by year’s end: WSJ

According to the Wall Street Journal, since Thompson’s death on Dec. 4, Witty has tried to reassure his employees that the work they are doing is appreciated and noteworthy – especially since there has been such an outpouring of support for his accused killer, Luigi Mangione and such visible anger against healthcare insurers. ‘

Along with this, he has been telling company executives that UHG is expecting to have record financials by the end of the year. The outlet reported that Revenue through September 2024 was around $300 billion. That is up from the record high $277 billion for the same time frame in 2023.

According to Forbes, UHG has been on a growth streak in terms of profits, and had a net income of $22.3 billion in 2023, $20.6 billion in 2022, and 17.3 billion in 2021.

Since Witty has taken the helm of the company, shares have increased by 90 percent. However, the outlet reports that major insurance companies next year could get hit with higher costs. Employees as well have complained of burnout as well as low wages.

After Thompson’s murder, the hostility towards health insurance companies has continued with “wanted posters” of health insurance executives, threatening emails, and other formats. UHG has even advised workers to work from home if they feel anxious about coming into the office.

Witty also recorded a video in the wake of the killing that he transmitted to company employees. In it, he tries to be encouraging and resolute, per the WSJ.

“The environment we find ourselves in is a complex one, not one that was ever designed by anybody,” Witty said in the video, sent to employees on Dec. 23. His company is complex as well, linking together services that pay for hospitalization, dispense drugs and employ doctors and nurses.

He added in the message, “Right now, people continue to have strong feelings inside the organization, maybe nervous, maybe anxious, maybe worried about security.”