Sicko is out now and I noticed it was just released at selected theaters.
Is anyone planning to see it this week?
I saw Michael Moore on Larry King and I thought it was a good interview.
But I am sorry he didnt address the HMO people when they were willing to talk to him.
I don't think I will be seeing it this week but I do plan on seeing it. It is going to be interesting to hear reactions from people after they have seen this movie. I am disappointed he didn't name it Sicko MoronsI haven't seen it yet and don't plan to. I have seen a few of his movies and I just don't like the way he treats people in them. Our health care system in the US has major problems.
What most people do not realize is that the US does have a national health plan. The government pays for over 50% of all health care in the US. Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Champva etc. There are serious problems with national health care. It would be nice if simply going to a national plan would help, but it doesn't.
Most people do not realize that 1 out of 3 health care dollars go to administrative costs. It takes a lot of money to correctly code and bill the government. The government does not want to pay much at all. It states its job is to protect the taxpayer and its money and there are so many rules and regulations regarding health care administration.
Many people have heard of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act. It is a good law. It helps protect patient privacy and secure computer transactions. It also allows Americans to maintain health insurance when they move from 1 job to the next (thats the portability). But the bills main motive has to do with correctly billing the government.
I am now finishing a degree in Health Care Administration. I will be writing my thesis either in the fall or spring semester. I truly think I want to cover health care in America. Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated.
I like the fact that I do have the right to privacy when it comes to my healthcare. I do not need my personal information shared with people that maybe I do not want it shared with.
While the US government does pay over 50% of healthcare in America...it is the little guy like me that ends up absorbing the administrative costs. I feel that is what could have a lot of people up in arms about the cost of health care and insurance in this country. Our nations military and our retirees that spent their lives working and paying taxes SHOULD have their health care covered. It's just that we have to work on finding a more inexpensive way to do this. There has to be a solution out there somewhere.
Mary, I would strongly encourage you to see Sicko. This film by Michael Moore is done differently than his others, and is a very good look at the current situation we are in, and how we got here. It would a very good movie for you to watch and consider as you write your thesis.
In regard to the portability law, I agree it is a good law, but it doesn't help the individual trying to buy insurance on their own, such as the self employed. Self-employed people with preexisting conditions are up the creek. No one wants to insure them. So then the only option you are offered is to purchase high risk insurance, which has such astronomical rates very few people could afford it. There is nothing else out there. If you sign up with National Association for the Self Employed for group insurance and manage to get a policy, it will not cover preexisting conditions -EVER. Obviously the preexisting conditions are the reason you want to buy insurance. It simply doesn't make sense for an insurer to insure someone knowing that they are sick - why would they? There are in business to make money.
We really need to figure out a way that all Americans can be insured. I am willing to pay for it - either by my taxes, or through premiums.
Mary - I would focus on the AMA, that's the enemyActually CNN did a little story on SICKO. And even CNN (in all it's liberal glory) had negative things to say about it. Mostly that the people (except the 9/11 workers) were "old news" that their healthcare problems happened 15 years ago or more with the terrible HMO issues that we had. Obviously, the 9/11 workers problems had merit and it's a terrible situation. But CNN did point out that there are many falsities about Moore's info on the Cuban healthcare system.I plan on seeing Sicko. I've worked in the medical field and health and workers' compensation benefits. I was a surgical nurse for 16 years and a vice president of a health and workers' compensation comany in California. I have some working knowledge of the issues that both sides face in the current health care crisis. I'm interested in what the film has to say. I'll make up my own mind about the issues, not based on a Michael Moore film, but first hand knowledge of what has taken place in the health care and health benefits arenas over the last 25 years.
It's easy to say that we need a national health care plan but it's probably one of the programs that is the most difficult to implement and govern if it's to be done the right way. We need to learn from all the other countries. What works in their plans and what doesn't. We won't have a program that addresses the needs of the workers who can't afford health insurance until our politicians stop taking money from the medical and pharmaceutical companies. Our politicians care more about keeping their moneyed contributors happy than the voting American citizen. Just my humble opinion. Lindy
You can watch it here
http://www.tucsonscene.com/?q=node/560
"Basically it came down to, yes we have issues with our system but so do