You SICKO!?

Question

Just saw the movie last night. The most disturbing part was the lady who was the Medical Director for that insurance company saying that she caused the death of so many people by denying claims based on technicalities etc...Shame......
No, i dont think Michael Moore showed the WHOLE truth about it all (like the high income tax rate of Canadians to pay for socilaized healthcare) but my goodness- we dump people who cannot pay hospital bills off on the street in front of homeless shelters on skid row?!?!?! .....And Prisoners of war- the same people who want all Americans dead (AND tried to kill a significant amount of us on 9/11)- are getting "top notch" medical treatment at Guatanamo Bay??? Thats just messed up! Your thoughts? Do you think we could ever have a National Health Care system? Also, as a Christian, do you think that Med Director is going to hell for denying claims and essentially letting those people she denied die???

Answer 1

First I am a Brit living in the US, so I have seen both health care systems.

There are problems with both. The US system leaves too many out. the UK system has long waits and is inefficient.

A UK/Canada national health system would not work in the US. It is incompatible with what is there now. But a national medical insurance system would work.

For those against such a system answer me this. Hospitals are legally required to treat people. To at least get them back on their feet. Who pays for all the uninsured treatments?

The answer is the people who actually put money into the system. That would be the insured people. Health care is expensive because we currently pay for the emergency health care of uninsured people.

But preventative health care is a lot cheaper then emergency (reactive) health care. Is it better to give antibiotics for a septic wound, or wait until it festers and hast to be operated on? Amoxycillen is cheap, OR time is very expensive.

Face it. Whether you pay for it in taxes, or in higher insurance premiums you are currently paying for emergency health care for the uninsured. It would be better to formalize this process and start paying for cheaper non-emergency preventative health care.

Answer 2

Before Peter Jennings passed away, he did a real documentary on our health care system. It wasn't biased to make a point like Moore's is. Since when have any of Moore's films been considered objective. But Jennings series was very good. He went into all the facets of why it cost's us so much. From what I remember at it's conclusion there is not any one thing driving up costs. There is no one solution to the problem. There are many. It's far more complex than a national health care fix-all. National Health is a great big money grab by our government. It will not be less cost to us over the long haul. Our system which is the best in the world, is economically driven and that alone drives the system's superior offerings. Nationalizing it will most likely drive out some of the private cost but it will also drive out innovation. We have to admit that money attracts ideas which creates innovation. There has to be a better idea than just giving another 25% of our income to the government. By the way, people wait for long periods time in national plans too. Even to the point of death.

Answer 3

I haven't seen the movie, but I can give you a professional's opinion of the insurance industry from a regulatory viewpoint -- and from a Christian perspective.

First, as a Christian: any Medical Director who would brag about ending someone's life on a "technicality" will surely face the wrath of God for it someday. I guess that's all that needs to be said.

Second, as a regulator: all states have insurance commissioners that regulate the business of insurance. Each commissioner has highly trained staff that investigates complaints filed against insurers licensed within that state. If a claim is denied wrongfully (i.e. in violation of statute or regulation, or in violation of the contract), the commissioner has the authority to compel the insurer to cover the service or pay the claim. If a service is denied as "not medically necessary," and a specialist hired by the commissioner's office disagrees, then the insurer will be compelled to cover the service. However, not all insurance plans are subject to state regulatory review; some are loosely regulated by the United States Department of Labor -- which doesn't become involved in disputes. So the person has to sue in federal court and may die in the meantime. In my opinion, that's the REAL "hole" in the system.

Americans receive the best quality medical care of any nation in the world. Unfortunately, the covetousness of private industry may interfere with that process. However, laws and processess are in place to protect the consumer.

EDIT: "Meep!" I have yet to see any of the money in the pockets of government officials you reference. Maybe I missed the meeting where they gave out the payola...

Answer 4

I am self-employed and my husband is a chef for a locally owned restaurant. We don't have health insurance. We just do what we can to stay healthy. We need a National Healthcare System.

I believe that the reason health care costs so much is because of insurance. There is this mindset that if one has insurance, then they can go to the doctor for anything because someone else is paying. Insurance companies dictate how patients can be treated. Insurance companies drive up the cost of care. Plain and simple, a national program would never happen because it is making too much money.

We would happily pay into a national plan that helps the working uninsured with coverage. We think a bigger group with bigger buying power would get the costs down to a place we could afford. I don't want anyone to give it to me - I will pay - but just can't pay $500 or more per month to buy insurance on our own.

Answer 5

Actually Americans pay more in taxes per person to support their medical system than the Canadians. There is no reason USA should not be able to afford an even better health care system than Canada's and make it totally free, which it still is not in Canada.
Our Health care system is economical, but it is not free.

And what Salahuldin says about us getting rid of the National Health care System, that is just wrong.
In spite of all the talk about it we have kept making it stronger. Everybody gets medical treatment whether they can afford it or not.

We are likely going to have to stop allowing our (medical) drugs to be shipped to you guys though. Because USA has been purchasing their drugs in Canada where our drug plan makes them so much cheaper we are having problems keeping our supplies up to where they should be.

Answer 6

I don't think we will have national health care because the insurance corporations keep putting money in the pockets of our government officials.

As far as the Christian/is she going to hell element, I don't know I'm not a Christian but that would be sad because she did try to open everyone's eyes to what was going on in the end and that was brave.

Answer 7

Make no mistake, the Guantanamo scenes weren't glitzed up, or cast in a certain light. Of all the things the military does wrong, food services, and healthcare are not among them... Some of the military docs are scary to be sure, but the healthcare system itse;f is amazing.

Answer 8

The devil in American and Canadian well-being Care systems is they the two earnings from ailment, and repeat visits. opposite to what Mr. Moore believes (I e-mailed him in this) is that at the same time as Canada has a central authority pay equipment, the centers presented are nonetheless in the internal maximum sector. (this is opposite to the political rhetoric, and the misconceptions of the Canadian equipment) the rustic is ranked thirty 6th in the international, Canada thirtieth, purely at the back of Columbia, besides the undeniable fact that Italy and France are in the coolest 2 and infrequently if ever reported. you notice the employer of treating ailment, and or warning signs leads study and medical care faraway from common reason and effect. lots of those with intestinal issues are labelled with a ailment, ie IBS, Crohns, could strengthen MS or maximum cancers. yet an basic huge spectrum anti-biotic, or organic treatments for parasites could steer away from each and every of the indicators, and all the treatments, that are billed in step with circulate to. reality can lie...while this is an element of the reality. the main to resolving this is to get huge employer to understand that a healthful inhabitants will spend greater on GM products and Microsoft products. enable us to discover preventative treatments, the present equipment would not want that, because of the fact it may bankrupt them. Caesar J. B. Squitti H. B. Commerece

Answer 9

I have not seen the movie but i sure will. If she ask Gods forgiveness and make amends for what she did. It is not up to us it is between she and God

I love this country but how can it continue to be the greatest country if everyone is sick. Health care should be accessible and affordable to everyone healthy people equals a strong and great nation.

Answer 10

Various watch groups have gone out to check on Moore's fact and numbers. They've come back saying that everything he claims is pretty much dead-on.

Now, I once worked in a prison, and the health care there is horrible. The Supreme Court had to place California under court orders to bring it's corrections health care up to a bare minimum.