Are you satisfied with the health care system in the U.S.?

Question

Are you absolutely sure your insurance will cover you for whatever health crisis may come your way?

Do you not see 45 Million people not having medical insurance as a problem?

Do you think the HMO or PPO restrictions are a fair business practice?

Even if you saw the documentary 'Sicko' and still think it's self-serving propaganda....did it bring up any issues that you think are credible concerns?

Do you think something needs to be done to fix the 'profit over patients' component of health insurance companies decisions?

I feel that "Sicko" accomplished one good thing.
It brought this health insurance coverage problem to the forefront and now we really can't ignore the fact that things need to be fixed here!


Maybe now we can accomplish something substantial!

Daniel L: There have been credible malpractice lawsuits as well!!
Don't judges decide if a suit has merit to go to trial?
I can guarantee you that if someone left a surgical tool inside of me or performed a surgery that I wasn't supposed to have like amputating the wrong limb....somebody's gonna get sued!!!

Answer 1

Yes, I'm absolutely sure my policy covers all the "what if's." The problem with a lot of people "running out of insurance" during a crisis, is that they failed to read their policies when they assumed them or fully understood what's covered and what isn't - or they just bought the cheapest one because they had the "it can't happen to me anyway" mentality.

No, I don't see a problem except for the ones people make for themselves. We already have universal health care. It's called Medicare and Medicaid, which covers the poor and the elderly. Those who don't qualify for these programs are employed. If their jobs aren't providing health care, find a new one or buy an outside policy. If they can't afford an outside policy, get a better job.

I see people living in nice houses, driving two brand new cars, and eating out ALL the time but they don't have health insurance. Gee, I wonder why. If they learned how to budget their freakin money and use that tax return every spring for something beneficial to their family instead of that new big screen TV, car, boat, or fancy vacation, they would be able to do what's most important. Instead, they put their cell phone bills in front of their own family's health and expect everyone else to bail them out. Why should I?

I didn't see Sicko, and I have no desire to since MM spins the facts so far into the stratosphere on every other movie he's made. This one will be no exception, I'm sure. I'm also sure that if MM were to ever fall ill, that he wouldn't be rushing to Cuba for his care.

Answer 2

I havent seen sicko yet but I am fairly sure its got alot of propaganda.
That being said I worked for a large health insurance company for 5 years. I know both sides of the issue from the company perspective and of course from the customer perspective.
Yes there are several things that need major attention.

Now as to the HMO thing.... medicare and medicaid are HMO's and PPO's both. You have to be treated by a doctor that still participates and the government will only pay for certain things and will only pay a fixed maximum for those things.

Universal Health care would be the same thing. It would be the government telling you what they would pay for and how much they would pay for it. And some things that you needed would be denied.

The first thing that needs to be done is some restrictions on lawsuits, some TORT reform. Does it make sense that doctors and hospitals pay outrageous practice insurance because someone can be awarded multiple millions of dollars for some minor mistake.
Also we need to get a handle on pharmaceuticals. I think there does need to be fair practice and open competition.
No one company should get exclusive rights over all the others for a vaccine for instance give other companies a chance to compete for development.

Many other things I could bring up but it does need to be revamped but Universal Health Care as proposed isnt quite it.
There are many good ideas already out there that just need to be brought out. Would have been nice if Moore would do that more and criticize and twist facts a bit less.

Answer 3

There are several kinds of care in the US. I haven't heard of anyone being refused emergency medical care. I have not seen, ( and I work at a hospital) any illegal aliens refused emergency room treatment.

I have seen people come in with a rash that they said they've had for a few days but come into the emergency room because they know it is FREE and they wait until the Dr. offices are closed or its Friday night. There's a lot of people gaming the system also.

The worst would be to have a socialized medicine system here. Counted in the millions of people are those that don't want the health care. It is not mandatory by law. It is also not a right by law.

Try staying in another country that has what you perceive to be a great system. Stay long enough to need some hospital care and then tell me who has the best system.

Anyone counting on ONE person for all their information about anything needs some more learnin'.

Answer 4

I'm happy with what I have. I think SIcko brings up interesting points, and even though it was a one sided argument, it made relevant points. However, I don't think socialised medicine is the way to go. I look at the U.K. as an example, they have to import over 1/3 of their doctors because their best and brightest doctors have gone to countries without socialised medicine because they want to make more money.

I personally think most of our problems stem from sue happy people thinking they can make a quick buck suing doctors for malpractice, even though the doctors did nothing wrong. If a doctor was allowed to counter sue someone who makes false accusations I think those types of suits would disappear and health care costs wouldn't be s high in this country.

edit: Yes, but there are plenty of bogus ones to. If there's a legitimate claim, there's a legitimate claim.That's why I believe if the case is proved to be an attempt to make money off of bogus claims a doctor should be allowed to counter sue for legal fees and damages.

I've seen enough t.v. programs where a person claims to be injured for life, puts on an act for the courtroom, and gets his case taken to trial. Then when the doctor's legal time hires a private investigator they film the person walking around just fine with no ailments. See my point. ^_^

Answer 5

Like most op-ed pieces from Michael Moore, many points are brought out and highlighted. Some are even credible. Some.
Unfortunately, criticism and deception seem to be the theme here - as always - since viable solutions or valid alternatives to these alleged concerns are certainly missing. And, to be honest, some of his accusations were so far off the chart that, as far as I was concerned, the film lost all of its credibility during the grandstanding, Cuban flag waving segments.

I wonder how he would reply as to why the Cuban population is so great in the south east - or why the refugees keep trying to get the hell out of Cuba on just about anything that floats. Or better yet, why they felt it necessary to fly in a doctor from outside the country to attend to Fidel.

I do agree that many points that need attention were brought out - it's just a shame that he has to resort to such deception and questionable (at best) conclusions and sources and promote his obvious anti-American rhetoric throughout his so-called "documentary."
It's sad in a way - I believe Michael Moore could do some real documentaries - but he seems unable to put his own biases aside long enough to do any real journalism.

Answer 6

The only thing Sicko brings up is that our health care system in America sucks. However its solution is to socialize it completely. Think of the DMV or IRS next time you go to the doctors office. Think of our public school system in America. The movie fails to mention all of the government control that is already there. Instead it would lead you to believe it is a completely free market with out interference from the government, it is not and that is what is wrong with the our system now. Let the invisible hand run the markets not the government.

Answer 7

The 45 million that Michael Moore tells you is representative on one day of figures. He doesn't mention that most of those people only lacked insurance temporarily. He also didn't tell you that most people who qualify for government subsidized healthcare don't apply for it.

He also didn't mention that we already have universal access to healthcare. If you walk into a hospital with an emergency, they cannot legally deny you treatment. There are also free clinics many people choose not to visit.

Answer 8

You have the same problem here that you have with the poor.

If you have good medical insurance you don't care about anyone else. I happen to have very good medical insurance but know that if I developed some disasease that would cost a million dollars to treat they would dump me like a sack of potatoes.

If you have whole bunches of money you really don't care that there are people barely making it. That is if you are a highly religous jesus following Christian. Thats what Jesus preached you know. Get yours and the hell with everyone else. He also preached that the one who dies with the most
money wins.

Answer 9

Generally, yes.

Answer 10

I agree there is a problem. I just don't think socialized health care is the solution.