Centene cancels in-person investor's day event in wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO killing

The health insurer Centene has moved its investor’s day event online amid the health care industry’s rising security concerns over the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Preliminary details from the investigation into Thompson’s killing suggest retribution against insurance practices may have been a motive behind the attack. The casings of the bullets found at the scene were inscribed with words including “deny” and “delay,” a possible reference to the phrases insurers use to deny claims. Online, social media reactions to Thompson’s death point to animosity against health insurers that has reached a critical point, and companies have been swift in taking action to protect their executives.

Centene did not specifically cite security as the reason behind its decision to make its Dec. 12 event virtual instead of in-person, but did say that it was doing so “in the wake of the tragic loss” of Thompson.

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