UnitedHealth tapped an insider to replace the slain executive as CEO of its insurance division

(Reuters) – Unite Health Group on Thursday appointed Tim Noel, the head of its Medicare business, to the top job at the health insurer, a month after Unite’s former chief executive Brian Thompson was killed.

Noel oversees UnitedHealthcare, the largest US health insurer providing benefits to more than 50 million Americans.

The brutal killing of Thompson on December 4 sparked widespread discussion about the frustrations of navigating America’s health care system.

More Americans, who regularly pay more for health care than any other country, have expressed anger at denied insurance claims, missed medical expenses and rejected claims for care.

On the other hand, the health insurance industry is grappling with rising costs, driven by increased demand for health care for the elderly or disabled through the government-sponsored Medicare plan.

In addition, changes in Medicaid and changes in states have led insurers to have more patients in need of additional medical care.

UnitedHealth reports a higher-than-expected medical loss ratio — the percentage of premiums spent on medical services — a measure that tracks costs.

In the year Noel, who joined in 2007, most recently served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare and Retirement division.

The parent company operates Optum, which includes pharmacy benefits manager, specialty pharmacy, data analytics and doctor and surgery operations.

He owns Change Healthcare, a technology company that suffered a cyberattack last year that affected thousands of healthcare providers and millions of customers.

(Reporting by Maryam Sunny and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvilla)