CITIZENS NEWS

UnitedHealth CEO resigns amid financial turmoil

By ramontomeydw // 2025-05-17

• UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty resigned on May 13, citing "personal reasons." Former CEO Stephen Hemsley, 72, took over his post amid financial turmoil and leadership instability.
• UnitedHealth's stock dropped 18 percent to a four-year low, and the company suspended its 2025 earnings forecast due to soaring Medicare Advantage costs, while competitors like Humana remained stable.
• Witty's tenure from 2021 to 2025 was marked by crises, including a February cyberattack on subsidiary Change Healthcare that disrupted billing for 190 million patients.
• The December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione – who faces potential death penalty charges – sparked industry-wide security measures (e.g., removed executive bios) and public debate over healthcare corporate practices.
• The killing, cyberattack and financial strain reflect broader instability in healthcare, with analysts questioning if Hemsley's return is a temporary fix for UnitedHealth's mounting challenges.

The abrupt resignation of UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty underscores the mounting crises facing the nation's largest health insurer, from financial instability to the lingering trauma of a high-profile executive murder. The company announced Witty's resignation on Tuesday, May 13, citing "personal reasons" for his departure. Following Witty's resignation, his seat was handed back to Stephen Hemsley, UnitedHealth's current chairman. The 72-year-old Hemsley previously served as CEO from 2006 to 2017. UnitedHealth's stock plummeted nearly 18 percent to a four-year low after Witty's departure, compounding a year of financial strain. The company suspended its 2025 earnings forecast, citing unexpectedly high medical costs particularly in its Medicare Advantage division – a program once considered a profit engine for insurers. Rivals Humana and Elevance Health reported stable demand, suggesting UnitedHealth's struggles may be unique. "At a certain point, leadership must be held accountable," said Kevin Gade, an investor at Bahl & Gaynor. The investor hinted at Witty's inability to navigate the company’s cascading challenges. Witty's tenure as CEO, which began in 2021, was marred by operational failures. These included a February cyberattack on subsidiary Change Healthcare that disrupted billing for 190 million patients. (Related: Hackers target Change Healthcare, which handles 15 BILLION health records annually.) His exit mirrors the ouster of CVS Health CEO Karen Lynch in October, signaling broader turbulence in an industry wrestling with Medicare cost surges. Analysts question whether Hemsley's return is a temporary fix. "Putting in Hemsley just seems like a stopgap," said James Harlow of Novare Capital Management.

UnitedHealth still reeling from murder of Brian Thompson

Outside of soaring medical costs and the devastating cyberattack at Change Healthcare, UnitedHealth still grapples with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December. The executive was murdered by Luigi Mangione while walking to an investor conference in Manhattan. Mangione remains in custody and faces federal and state charges, including second-degree murder and weapons violations. He could be sentenced to death if found guilty of the federal charges. Nevertheless, Mangione's actions intensified scrutiny of the healthcare industry's role in rising costs and denied claims. His arrest sparked a polarizing response, with some portraying him as a vigilante against corporate greed. A GoFundMe for his legal defense has surpassed $1 million. The killing also triggered security overhauls on the part of health insurers. In the wake of the shooting, CVS Health and UnitedHealth removed executive bios from their websites amid fears of further attacks. The case reflects a volatile moment for healthcare giants – where financial pressures, public anger and security threats converge. As UnitedHealth aims for a 2026 rebound, the shadow of Thompson's murder and the unresolved tensions it exposed looms large. For now, the company's future hinges on whether Hemsley can steady a ship battered by crises both inside and outside its control. Watch Jason Dean revealing to Breanna Morello that UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson had been facing a lawsuit and a Justice Department investigation at the time of his murder. This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com.

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Patients across the U.S. still unable to access lifesaving medications nearly two weeks after CYBERATTACK on UnitedHealth's Change Healthcare unit. Murder of CEO of UnitedHealthcare may reflect rising discontent with a failing medical system. CEO's murder sparks security scramble in greed-driven healthcare industry. Sources include: Reuters.com NPR.org NBCNews.com Brighteon.com

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