When reactions to a murder are more shocking than the murder itself.

This month the CEO of United Health Group's insurance subsidiary, United Health Care, was a victim of homicide in a story that has headlined much of the media this holiday season. While the criminal case is still unfolding, the public reactions are not. In fact, the reactions have become part of the story. In short, many people appear to support the accused murderer, encouraging more violence against health insurer leadership, and much worse.

The pure volume, and depth, of the support has shocked our community. Especially online, people appear surprised and horrified to read statements like "he deserved to die" and "more like him should die too."

We are not here to understand the motive behind any of these parties, nor to solve the bigger problems herein. Who could?

So allow us to provide perspective. Consider a couple points that no one seems to be talking about:

1. Gun violence is not a new topic in the health insurance world. There was a even a movie about it. A big one. Starring Denzel Washington, hardly a B-list actor. In JOHN Q the main character uses guns and violence to fight a health insurance company. That was over 20 years ago. It's not new.

2. This month the main conversation around health insurers is potentially harmful claims-paying practices. Deny. Delay. And on and on. But in the courts, the conversation is the opposite. Plan Sponsors are actively suing health insurance companies for covering and paying too much.

How do these points impact the conversation? This is a blog, not a novel, so we won't attempt to unpack it here. But the industry needs change - on that we can all agree.

Most of us in the field have a saying, "the problem with healthcare is the cost." In other words, it is the cost of care and prescriptions that drives the root of the problem. Follow that through, and ultimately you'll end up where we go. What value do private corporations provide that the government could not? To what extent should the government run healthcare and health insurance? It's probably not an all-or-nothing answer. In fact, even if the government did start to take over parts of these pieces, could private industry still exist too? People could have a choice.

But unlike other industries - retail, entertainment, clothing, transportation - healthcare is emotional to the extent we all ask ourselves if it is a right or a privilege.

It's like education, housing and food. Basic human needs.

Unlike the online comments we've seen in Brian's death, these things are not optional.