SiCKO

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mvckalel

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 8:30 AM

says... I now own UP and Monsters, Inc. on blu-ray!!!

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So few times I feel a roller coaster of emotions with a movie, and yesterday it happened again with SiCKO. It's just that you end up realizing that the powers of insurance companies as well as pharmaceutical companies try to keep us sick, to say the least, so that their profits can keep going up, as well as trying not to pay for so many medical services.

Yes, Michael Moore went to Canada, England, France and Cuba, which each have no more than 65 million people (about 9, 50, 64, 11, million people respectively), but still, they spend the money were it should be spent.

I live in fear every day, I don't have insurance, and even if I had, what good would it be if I would still end up in debt if something serious happened?

I do know that Michael Moore might not be showing the whole picture out of the whole health care situation, but I believe that most of it is truth...

Has any of you seen the movie? What do you think? What do you feel? What about our fellow Canadian posters?

wolvinator

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 8:45 AM

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I have been wanting to see that movie. Insurance companies are screwjobs.

My workplace pays for my insurance as a single employee on a large group plan. Each employee costs them $502 per month. To me that is insane. I'm just glad I don't have to pay it. Don't get me started on how much it would be to add family members, lol.

Tim Raynor

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 8:54 AM

says... It puts the lotion in the basket . . .

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Yes, the health care system in the US pisses me off. He is right that the powers that be want to keep us sick -- my doctor admitted it to me a few days ago. I wanted to quit smoking so I got a prescription for Chantex and guess what? My insurance DID NOT COVER IT! In fact, most insurance companies will not cover Chantex. You would think the insurance company wants to keep you healthy so you are a low risk to them, but no, it's the complete opposite. Freakin' pills cost me $128 out of my own pocket!

On my last visit to the Doc., I basically got the "it's a wonder you're walking" speech. I had blood work done and my Cholesterol is 386, blood-sugar 248 (meaning I'm atthe beggining stages of diabetic) and I have high-blood pressure. Luckily them-there-drugs is real cheap at Walmart ($18 per month). So, the insurance company’s will cover the drugs that will keep you alive, but if you're looking to better your current health, forget about it!

[Post edited by Tim Raynor on Nov 7, 2008 - CST 8:56 AM]

Skyhawk

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 8:56 AM

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He had some good points in that movie, since I have experience both Canada's and the USA's healthcare system. Unfortunately any good points he does make are negated by a stupid romp to communist Cuba, as if this the medical treatment of his boat load of Americans with a camera crew is indicative of the quality of medicare experienced by the average Cuban.

This was so stupid, it made any proponent of socialized healthcare look like a nutcase. Thanks Mr. Moore!

But I find he does this with all this films - they present some great points, bring up subject matter that truely needs exploring... and then BAM! He kills it all with some outlandish, fake, annecdotal stupidity that makes any believer in the main point look stupid. Personally, I think he's an ultra right-wing neo-con in disguise.

mvckalel

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 9:11 AM

says... I now own UP and Monsters, Inc. on blu-ray!!!

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Sky, in many (if not most) aspects, the communist/socialist universal health care system of Cuba is better than the US...

Skyhawk

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 9:27 AM

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mvckalel,

What I'm saying Moore expects us to believe that a few Americans taken to Cuba with a camera crew for medical treatment that will put Cuba in a good light will not get exceptional treatment. I can't believe that sorry. Just like I also believe that Varadero tourists in Cuba likely experience a level of healthcare not enjoyed by the average population.

Cuba isn't a rich country, and their infrastructure is strained. You can see this the minute you take your rented scooter out of a tourist area. There is no way that their level of healthcare is as available or advanced as Canada's or other developed western country.

BTW, there is no need to "socialize" medical care or hospitals, etc. Just socialize the insurance aspect in order to get rid of the "for profit" middlemen that really don't serve society any purpose other than to make some people very, very, very rich.

PS mvckalel: Canada's population is over 30 million, not that population has much to do with it

[Post edited by Skyhawk on Nov 7, 2008 - CST 9:31 AM]

mvckalel

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 10:39 AM

says... I now own UP and Monsters, Inc. on blu-ray!!!

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You are right Sky, that's why you need to be careful with any documentary, specially one with Michael Moore (still about to buy Bowling...)

Yes, sorry about Canada's population, I just wanted to make sure that we understand that those countries have a whole lot less population than the USA, and that it would take a great amount of resources and infrastructure for a universal health care system to really take off. However, I do think that we have what it takes to undertake a task like that.

About Cuba, not because they don't drive 2009 Honda's or Ford's, that means that they lack in their health department. They are a socialist/communist country, and they chose to spend on health care wisely, we didn't...and yes, of course they would treat Americans with a film crew with special attention, but again, you have to be unbiased...

Skyhawk

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 12:24 PM

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Quote:
I just wanted to make sure that we understand that those countries have a whole lot less population than the USA, and that it would take a great amount of resources and infrastructure for a universal health care system to really take off.

Population has nothing do with it, $$$ does. Considering the USA's per-capita GDP far exceeds that of France, Canada, UK, or Cuba, it has more resources to put towards a universal healthcare system than the 4 countries you mentioned.

Additionally, the USA would actually save more than 50% by adopting a universal system such as Canada's, considering Americans spend more than twice as much as Canadians on a per-capita basis for healthcare.

The idea is that you don't put doctors and hospitals directly on the government's payroll. You just fire all the private insurance companies by allowing the government to take over that role only on a non-profit basis. Doctors, clinics, and hospitals STILL make money for only the patients they serve, and patients retain the FULL RIGHT to go choose any doctor, clinic, or hospital they desire.

This will NEVER happen in the USA. The US Medical Insurance lobby is as big or bigger than big oil is. Can you even imagine what would happen to a politician for suggesting that the country make an entire industry irrelevant? A lot of rich people would be so pissed off, I'd think the person who introduced such an idea would be assasinated before he could even table the bill.

csjlong

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 12:31 PM

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Whether nationalized health care is the best or only answer, I don't know but it is not just inefficient, it is downright immoral to leave our health care in the hands of for-profit corporations.

Here's the DVDTown review of Sicko

http://www.dvdtown.com/news/theatrical-review-of-sicko/4563

KungFuTaco

Nov 7, 2008 - CST 12:44 PM

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First I think Micheal More is a worthless piece of shit.

That being said I saw somewhere some Insurance company covered assisted suicide but didn't cover several other treatment options for something. So basically they would pay to have you kill yourself but not treat you.