NEW YORK / BOSTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - UnitedHealth Group ( UNH )

shareholders on Wednesday said they requested the

company prepare a report on the costs and public health impact

related to its "practices that limit or delay access to

healthcare."

If the proposal makes it to a vote at the company's annual

meeting it would raise a charged topic after a senior executive

was gunned down in Manhattan last month.

A spokesperson for UnitedHealth ( UNH ) said the company will

respond to shareholder proposals for its 2025 proxy statement

once it files the document that serves as an agenda for its

annual meeting, which has not yet been scheduled. In recent

years, the company has issued its proxy in April ahead of a June

annual meeting.

Those who filed the resolution include religious groups led

by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary of Quebec,

and Trillium Asset Management.

The group proposed an analysis of how prior authorization,

or approval required by an insurer before a patient can receive

medical care, and denials of medical services lead patients to

forgo treatment.

"The pattern of delays and denials of necessary medical care

by UnitedHealth ( UNH ) and other insurance companies harms more than

just the patient themselves," Wendell Potter, president of the

Center for Health & Democracy and a former Cigna

executive, said in a statement sent in support of the resolution

by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.

UnitedHealth ( UNH ) runs the country's largest health insurer,

UnitedHealthcare, as well as pharmacy benefit manager Optum and

medical practices.

The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in

December galvanized criticism of U.S. health insurers, with

swarms of patients describing delayed or denied care and

accusing companies of using deceptive practices.

Luigi Mangione, 26, who was accused of killing Thompson,

pleaded not guilty in a New York court in December after

receiving thousands of dollars in public donations shortly after

his arrest.

In a December statement, UnitedHealth ( UNH ) said it approves and

pays for an average of 90% of medical claims submitted.

"Highly inaccurate and grossly misleading information has

been circulated about our company's treatment of insurance

claims," UnitedHealth ( UNH ) said.

UnitedHealth ( UNH ) CEO Andrew Witty in a message to employees

described Thompson as "one of the good guys," adding the company

would continue to service the most vulnerable Americans.