Thousands of Americans go bankrupt, lose their homes or die every year due to medical insurer practices

The killing appeared so well-planned that at first glance many assumed it was a professional hit.

The gunman who shot dead Brian Thompson, head of one of the US’s largest health insurance companies, on a New York street before dawn lay in wait with a weapon fitted with a silencer, kept his cool as his gun jammed and made a nimble escape after ensuring that his victim had been fatally struck.