Having a debate over insurance in the wake of a CEO’s shooting • Missouri Independent

Everywhere I go, from trivia at Your Pie Pizza to our church’s Sunday School lesson to our family conversation, people are talking about the same thing, the shooting of an insurance company CEO.

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Is it the right thing to talk about? And is there a good way to handle conversations about such a topic?

First of all, there should never be any condoning of such a premeditated murder. That should be the first topic to lead with. Regardless of what that person and his company are accused of doing, there can be no good in it. That only produces an outcome that equates or even overshadows so many health tragedies around the country, which is what’s stimulating much of this debate and discussion.

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Second, it’s obvious that whatever motivated the assassin, such events have resonated with so many people around the country for a reason. My extended family has had its share of prayers and crossed-fingers, hoping our insurance company will approve a surgery or treatment. We have been among the fortunate ones, in general, when it comes to health. But we’ve also been among those who faced a huge cost, and had been told insurance won’t cover it. We’ve felt that pain too as we ate into college savings and retirement to cover those costs.

I also know those on social media who point to the fact that this killing in New York City is getting a ton of attention, far more than those who have been denied or dropped and suffered in silence, their stories going unreported, despite the tragic circumstances.

Each time there’s a discussion, there’s a debate. What could be done differently? Some believe that only something spectacular like the assassin’s action could ever bring such attention.

I disagree.

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During this Christmas season, I’m also doing a lot of grading. A student wrote about a woman whose death focused a spotlight on abortion restrictions, and a medical community afraid to cross politicians eager to support their base. She didn’t kill anyone responsible for her plight, but her death sparked just as big of a discussion about whether very strong pro-life policies might be taking lives. Sometimes these tragedies do get covered, shining a spotlight on the problem.

That’s something where my peers in the media could make a difference, exposing cases of medical insurance problems. But I believe that we should do more than point out flaws. We should also report when someone does a good job helping others, even if it is their job to do so.

When my wife lived in Florida, she worked for an insurer who seemed to deny every submitted claim. When I helped with the Hurricane Ian cleanup, some residents told me they were dropped from coverage as the storm surged toward the coast.

But I also worked for USAA back in 1992, and got to report on how the company did an amazing job at covering its members when Hurricane Andrew powered its way over Homestead Air Force Base, where many of the company’s insured worked and lived.

We can’t change what happened in New York City, or that people are talking about it. But maybe we in the press, and others in America, can change the conversation toward something that produces meaningful change for those who can ill-afford the status quo.