Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) can understand people’s frustrations with the healthcare system in the U.S. She’s been there herself, she says.
She can also understand the apathy people have shown surrounding the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street Dec. 4.
Many have focused their anger on the healthcare system and some have even applauded the actions of his assassin, Luigi Mangione, Mediaite reported.
And as Ocasio-Cortez admitted, some may feel a claim denial is “an act of violence” towards them.
Ocasio-Cortez spoke with CBS News’ Jaala Brown about the controversy.
“I think that this collective American experience [of healthcare], which is so twisted to have in the wealthiest nation in the world, all of that pain that people have experienced is being concentrated on this event,” she started. “And it’s really important that we take a step back.”
She then likened Thompson’s murder to a denied claim.
“This is not to comment and this is not to say that an act of violence is justified, but I think for anyone who is confused or shocked or appalled, they need to understand that people interpret and feel and experience denied claims as an act of violence against them,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“People go homeless over the financial devastation of a diagnosis that doesn’t get addressed or the amount that they’re gonna have to cover with a surprise bill and things like that,” she added. “And when we kind of talk about how systems are violent in this country, in this passive way, our privatized healthcare system is like that for a huge amount of Americans.”
She then noted briefly her own experience with healthcare.
“I did not have health insurance until I got elected to Congress. I was running. When I first ran for Congress, I had to sit in a free clinic,” she admitted.
