SiCKO

The new Michael Moore movie, SiCKO, opened here in the heartland last night, and I went to see it rather than watching fireworks in the pouring rain. Very powerfully done, and while I was largely aware of the practices of the so-called "health care system" there were a number of eye-opening points in the film. It's not even about the tragedy of the 15% of Americans who have NO health insurance... it's about the 250 million of us living under the illusion of having health coverage. It's filled with examples of people driven to poverty despite being insured, and the absurd lengths to which insurance companies will go to deny claims and coverage, about denials of lifesaving treatment due to "incorrect" coverage. It's also about how the government works with insurers and pharmaceutical companies and the AMA to promote an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear to discourage people from seeking treatment and to maximize confusion to maximize profits.

SiCKO shows how shockingly simple, effective and patient-friendly single-payer systems can be in countries such as Canada, England, France and even Cuba. The US perceptions of the evils of "socialized medicine" are shown to be way off base. People choose their doctors, and service is delievered in a timely manner, at least based on the people interviewed. I'm sure the systems everywhere have flaws and problems, but taking the profit motive out of the equation sure seems to have everyone more at ease, allowing doctors to concentrate on the best treatment, and patients to focus on getting better, instead of everyone worrying about paperwork and approvals from faceless administrators whose pay depends on the percentage of claims they can reject, not on the numbers of people who get well.

Now, there are those who claim Moore manipulates reality and details to promote some insidious "liberal agenda" but honestly, I think everyone could agree that the notion that providing citizens with quality medical care and removing the financial fear factor would be a good thing for any country. The only people who win with our current system are shareholders and CEOs, not the citizens. Check out the film if it's playing in your town, then go home and take a good look at your insurance policy. And whatever you do, don't get sick.

International readers, I invite you to weigh in with your comments about the health care system in your countries. Steve, how does "The National Elf" compare to your experiences with the US system?

P.S. After the film outside the theater were several people with information on trying to get a universal health care system in place in Ohio, and a petition to sign. Of course, the theater management were quick to force them out and threaten to call the police if the small crowd didn't disperse immediately. Ah, it's great to be an American on the 4th of July!

The photo is unlicensed nurse Rose plotting to give Boyd "the treatment."