Who Is the U.S. Health System Really For? | NYT Opinion

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Frustration with a broken health care system has many Americans blaming insurance companies. In the first episode of New York Times Opinion’s new show “Divided,” a doctor and a former insurance executive confront a central question: Do insurance companies prioritize profit over patient care? Dr. Elisabeth Potter, a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction, has seen firsthand how insurance decisions can interfere with treatment. Dr. Troyen Brennan, a former chief medical officer at CVS Health, which owns Aetna insurance, believes those decisions are part of a system intended to keep care affordable. Since the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive in broad daylight, most insurance executives have wanted to avoid the spotlight; this conversation is a rare chance to hear directly from one engaging with a critic. Can they find common ground, or will they remain divided? 00:00 Intro 01:12 Profit over patient care? 04:34 The biggest problem with health care. 07:56 Agree or Disagree: Insurance should make treatment decisions. 15:01 A decision that challenged my morals. 18:56 Agree or Disagree: Doctors perform unnecessary procedures for profit. 22:21 Hypothetical: Which one should insurance cover? 28:45 The best way to reduce costs. 32:45 Agree or Disagree: The A.C.A. was beneficial. 36:21 One easy fix. 37:43 I changed my mind.