The rise of a culture that thrives on “I win, you lose, and I’ll rub it in your face” is about as lowbrow as public flatulence. Once upon a time, polite company avoided divisive topics like sex, religion, or politics. But now, the loudest voices, from low class attention-getters to poorly educated provocateurs (thanks, Jerry Springer) are no longer shunned but celebrated as entertainment.

Meanwhile, as we are distracted by the wealth of internet misinformation, we have billionaires using their power to enrich themselves further with no regard for basic humanity caring only for power, money, and themselves. This short-sighted greed spells trouble for the average person, especially Americans. Concerns like global warming or human suffering barely register — “It doesn’t affect me. so I DON’T CARE” seems to be the mantra. Compassion and accountability? Out the window. Wealth used for good? Hardly.

When I discovered that corporations were acquiring doctor practices, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and medical device companies, it raised a red flag for me. I immediately realized that insurance companies had to be a key player in this emerging system.

As luck would have it, I came across an article written by ProPublica,a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. I condensed their results from a recent investigation which underscores this troubling shift, into three paragraphs, just to give you an idea how insurance companies are joining the “Money before Morality” club. The unchecked pursuit of profit is reshaping industries that should prioritize care, not cash. It’s a bleak reality we can’t afford to ignore.

If the topic interests you, you can read the article in it’s entirety by going to www.propublica.org/article/evicore-health-insurance-denials-cigna-unitedhealthcare-aetna-prior-authorizations. Here is the short version.

Every day, Americans get bad news in the mail: their health insurer won’t pay for a treatment their doctor says they need. Whether it’s an MRI for a student athlete, cancer care for a grandmother, or a heart scan for a truck driver, insurers often deny coverage. But the decision isn’t always theirs. Many outsource these calls to companies like EviCore, owned by insurance giant Cigna, which profits from turning down claims.

EviCore uses AI algorithms — insiders call it “the dial” — to increase denials. The system flags claims for review, and the company adjusts settings to control how many requests are approved. The more denials, the more money saved, benefiting insurers and EviCore alike. Internal documents reveal the company markets a high return on investment, boasting of increasing denials by 15%.

Doctors complain EviCore’s (whom many call EvilCore) rules are outdated and rigid, delaying or denying needed care. Even employees have criticized the focus on cost-cutting over patient health. While EviCore defends its guidelines as evidence-based and claims to prioritize safety, its contracts and practices suggest profits often come first. This “denials for dollars” system raises questions about fairness and whether these decisions truly prioritize patients or the bottom line.