UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reported weaker-than-expected fourth quarter revenue due to weakness in its health insurance unit and soaring medical costs.

Morning Brief hosts Brad Smith and Seana Smith discuss the company's underperformance, while also citing challenges it has faced in the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's assassination on December 4, 2024; the stock price has fallen by nearly $100 since then.

Despite this, UnitedHealth remains committed to bettering healthcare accessibility and anticipates growth in 2025.

Follow Yahoo Finance's recent reporting on the US healthcare system and the health insurance industry's reaction to Thompson's killing:

The healthcare 'barriers' that made this fmr. insurance exec. walk away

Bipartisan lawmakers appear 'aligned' on PBM, insurance reform

Healthcare concerns rise as insurers deny patient claims

UnitedHealth Group CEO calls healthcare system 'flawed' in NYT letter

Health insurance industry 'laying low' in aftermath of UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

US has a 'sickcare system,' not a healthcare system: Anomaly CEO

How to fix the health insurance industry everybody seems to hate

UnitedHealthcare exec shooting is 'a wake-up call for the industry': Oscar Health CEO

US healthcare industry 'is now broken,' Oscar Health CEO explains

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