UnitedHealth reported fourth-quarter results on Thursday that reflected persistent challenges for the health insurance sector.

In his first public comments since one of his executives was shot to death, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said the healthcare system “needs to function better.”

The UnitedHealth Group leader whose murder in December unleashed a torrent of public frustration and dissatisfaction with the U.S. health care system was pushing for some of the very improvements that critics have been seeking.

UnitedHealth's CEO criticized the healthcare system as "confusing," "complex" and "costly" in first earnings call since the murder of Brian Thompson.

Insurance is shaping up to be one of the big themes of 2025. The California wildfires have put a spotlight on the property side of the business, while the recent murder of Brian Thompson, one of the top executives at UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH),