Review of Michael Moore's SiCKO
A man cuts off the tips of two of his fingers and is told one could be reattached for $60,000 and the other for $12,000, his choice. A woman's husband dies because his insurance denies payment for a procedure that could have saved his life. An older couple must move in with their daughter because their co-pays and deductibles bankrupted them. A woman is told to pay her hospital bill because it was discovered she once had a yeast infection that is unrelated to her current malady. A woman's emergency ride to the hospital is not payed by insurance because the ride was not preapproved, although she was in a car accident and was unconscious...
The healthcare industry employs people to uncover anything about patients that could be used to deny paying their medical bills. Paying them is called a "medical loss." Denying payment earns medical reviewers salary bonuses...
Moore's film effectively exposes the problems and concerns about America's healthcare industry. It is scary these sorts of things occur in a wealthy country in Western civilization.
Although pinpointing the ugliness of American healthcare, the film has weaknesses too. It leaves out important information, such as the cost to taxpayers for free universal healthcare and the downfalls of France's, England's, and Canada's healthcare systems.
However, the message that this country's healthcare industry is immensely erroneous, egregious, and inegalitarian is disturbingly clear. 40-50 million Americans are without health insurance. Those with it are denied proper care too easily and too often. The healthcare industry is bent on profit and uses whatever never-ending list of preexisting conditions and other insidious methods to get it.
Coupled with this serious commentary is Moore's talented intermixing of comedy. There is the famous footage of a lady telling President Bush she works three jobs, to which Bush responds that that is uniquely American. Unfortunately, in the midst of these problems with healthcare, we have a president who is an utter out of touch war mongering buffoon. Also, Moore takes some Americans in need of healthcare to Guantanamo Bay, where "evil-doers" get better medical treatment than many Americans.
It is also interesting to compare America with the systems of France, England, and Canada. Drugs are cheaper or free in those countries. Hospital bills are cheaper or nonexistent. Nanny care is provided by the French government. Wait time for doctors is shorter...
It makes you think.
If only this country had the attitude of "we," not "I"... If only we believed that those with more should help the unfortunate and disadvantaged... If only the poor and those without would voice their frustration and fight for their interests... If only politicians, CEOs, and the powerful cared, rather than not caring about whether ordinary Americans struggle or die...
Moore's film surely has its shortcomings, but it makes you think... and makes you realize, at least, the healthcare industry is a big mess. Moore could one day be seen as a hero, if change ever comes.
Everyone should see this film and be concerned about healthcare in this country.
The healthcare industry employs people to uncover anything about patients that could be used to deny paying their medical bills. Paying them is called a "medical loss." Denying payment earns medical reviewers salary bonuses...
Moore's film effectively exposes the problems and concerns about America's healthcare industry. It is scary these sorts of things occur in a wealthy country in Western civilization.
Although pinpointing the ugliness of American healthcare, the film has weaknesses too. It leaves out important information, such as the cost to taxpayers for free universal healthcare and the downfalls of France's, England's, and Canada's healthcare systems.
However, the message that this country's healthcare industry is immensely erroneous, egregious, and inegalitarian is disturbingly clear. 40-50 million Americans are without health insurance. Those with it are denied proper care too easily and too often. The healthcare industry is bent on profit and uses whatever never-ending list of preexisting conditions and other insidious methods to get it.
Coupled with this serious commentary is Moore's talented intermixing of comedy. There is the famous footage of a lady telling President Bush she works three jobs, to which Bush responds that that is uniquely American. Unfortunately, in the midst of these problems with healthcare, we have a president who is an utter out of touch war mongering buffoon. Also, Moore takes some Americans in need of healthcare to Guantanamo Bay, where "evil-doers" get better medical treatment than many Americans.
It is also interesting to compare America with the systems of France, England, and Canada. Drugs are cheaper or free in those countries. Hospital bills are cheaper or nonexistent. Nanny care is provided by the French government. Wait time for doctors is shorter...
It makes you think.
If only this country had the attitude of "we," not "I"... If only we believed that those with more should help the unfortunate and disadvantaged... If only the poor and those without would voice their frustration and fight for their interests... If only politicians, CEOs, and the powerful cared, rather than not caring about whether ordinary Americans struggle or die...
Moore's film surely has its shortcomings, but it makes you think... and makes you realize, at least, the healthcare industry is a big mess. Moore could one day be seen as a hero, if change ever comes.
Everyone should see this film and be concerned about healthcare in this country.
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