How do insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies work together to prioritize profits over patient care in the healthcare system?

Insurance companies like United Healthcare create systemic barriers that delay patient care and drive profits through strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. When patients finally receive surgery approval after lengthy waits, they're often forced to use specific hospitals and providers chosen by insurers rather than their preferred doctors. The prolonged delays and inadequate treatment options frequently lead patients to opioid dependency, which creates additional revenue streams for insurance companies through kickback arrangements with pharmaceutical companies. This profit-driven model prioritizes financial incentives over genuine patient health outcomes, creating a cycle where corporate interests dominate healthcare decisions while patients suffer from delayed care and increased addiction risks.