Michael Moore's SiCKO

[WoodPeckr]

Why Michael Moore's SiCKO is a health care documentary every American must see

Tuesday, June 19, 2007 by: Mike Adams

America's disastrous health care system is heaving the country head-first into near-certain economic collapse. Just about everybody's either financially strained or going broke due to spiraling health care costs: the people, the employers, state governments and even the federal government. Multinational corporations are fleeing the United States due to health care costs, taking jobs and economic productivity with them. Meanwhile, 50 percent of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. are due to medical expenses.

But not everybody's doing badly. The drug companies, surgeons, medical specialists, health insurance companies and private hospitals are making out like bandits, raking in multi-million dollar CEO salaries and -- I'm not making this up -- greater than 500,000% markups on prescription drugs. And while the American people get sicker, the drug companies, insurance companies and many health "care" providers (it's really more like "sick care providers") are rolling in cash. Drug companies are now among the richest corporations in the world, and they got there by inventing fictitious diseases, then selling drugs to people who mostly don't need them. See my CounterThink cartoon, Disease Mongers, Inc. to learn more about this topic.....

[more]

 

[Anbarandy]

Endorsing the 'walking-coronary's' diagnosis. The 'walking coronary' appears to be the walking-medical-disaster-in-waiting "Sicko".

On a side note, a 450kg gurney has been developed for such "Sickos".

 

[canada-man]

75% of people who are bankrupt due to medical bills had health insurance

 

[WoodPeckr]

75% of people who are bankrupt due to medical bills had health insurance

That is one of the problems Moore addressed.
Insurance companies are allowed to limit or exclude certain medical conditions almost at will lately. So you pay, think you are covered, then put in a claim when sick and they toss the claim for an ever increasing number of BS reasons. National News media, NBC, CBS & ABC did reports on this growing problem also the last couple of weeks.
It's part of the reasons US healthcare is such a national disgrace.

 

[FOOTSNIFFER]

I've got to agree with you there, WP. Sadly too, since I own quite a few shares of United Health Group....I think I'll sell them. I don't like to profit from peoples' misery.

 

[onthebottom]

Moore isn't one for contrary views but consider:

In April 2007, Cato Institute Director of Health and Welfare Studies Michael Tanner wrote that Britain's Department of Health “reported in 2006 that at any given time, nearly 900,000 Britons are waiting for admission to National Health Service hospitals, and shortages force the cancellation of more than 50,000 operations each year.”


“Sicko” harps on America’s 45 million citizens without health insurance, but withholds the fact that -- of the 45 million -- many are only temporarily uninsured. Stuart Browning speaks nationally on health care freedom and the myths of "single-payer" medicine, and recently produced a series of short films to counteract “Sicko.” His research found that 26 million uninsured make at least $50-75,000 a year. Browning found that 18 million of the uninsured are young adults who spend income on entertainment and alcohol instead of managing their health.


As physician and Manhattan Institute scholar David Gratzer put it, “let's not confuse a lack of health insurance with a lack of health care.” There are many free health clinics available for anyone -- including 12 million non-taxpaying illegal immigrants -- nationwide.

Moore asserts that Americans without insurance are essentially abandoned, which anyone who can read a newspaper knows is a simply untrue. The federal government mandates that emergency rooms treat all who seek medical attention regardless of payment ability. One emergency room nurse told me that, although patients are asked for identification and social security numbers in the emergency room, they aren’t required for treatment.

.........

If it takes 6 months to get a passport I'm not so sure I want that same organization to take care of me in my old age...

OTB

 

[danmand]

Moore isn't one for contrary views but consider:

In April 2007, Cato Institute Director of Health and Welfare Studies Michael Tanner wrote that Britain's Department of Health “reported in 2006 that at any given time, nearly 900,000 Britons are waiting for admission to National Health Service hospitals, and shortages force the cancellation of more than 50,000 operations each year.”


“Sicko” harps on America’s 45 million citizens without health insurance, but withholds the fact that -- of the 45 million -- many are only temporarily uninsured. Stuart Browning speaks nationally on health care freedom and the myths of "single-payer" medicine, and recently produced a series of short films to counteract “Sicko.” His research found that 26 million uninsured make at least $50-75,000 a year. Browning found that 18 million of the uninsured are young adults who spend income on entertainment and alcohol instead of managing their health.


As physician and Manhattan Institute scholar David Gratzer put it, “let's not confuse a lack of health insurance with a lack of health care.” There are many free health clinics available for anyone -- including 12 million non-taxpaying illegal immigrants -- nationwide.

Moore asserts that Americans without insurance are essentially abandoned, which anyone who can read a newspaper knows is a simply untrue. The federal government mandates that emergency rooms treat all who seek medical attention regardless of payment ability. One emergency room nurse told me that, although patients are asked for identification and social security numbers in the emergency room, they aren’t required for treatment.

.........

If it takes 6 months to get a passport I'm not so sure I want that same organization to take care of me in my old age...

OTB

It is good that emergency rooms are treating all patients that show up. Hurrah for that. But are emergency rooms doing treatments for cancers, bypass surgery and the like?

Or are real treatment reserved for the rich?

 

[WoodPeckr]

If it takes 6 months to get a passport I'm not so sure I want that same organization to take care of me in my old age...

OTB

Well bot, you better WAKE UP!
If you keep 'polishing the TURD' for Team 'w', that's EXACTLY what they have planned for you!.....

 

[onthebottom]

It is good that emergency rooms are treating all patients that show up. Hurrah for that. But are emergency rooms doing treatments for cancers, bypass surgery and the like?

Or are real treatment reserved for the rich?

and the poor (medicaid) and the old (medicare)

I've read that one third of the uninsured qualify for a program but they don't bother apply (probably young) and half make over 50k a year....

OTB

 

[Judge_Knoll]

I certainly don't just blame the Republicans for this. The Democrats haven't done anything to rectify the situation either.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I've read that one third of the uninsured qualify for a program but they don't bother apply (probably young) and half make over 50k a year....

OTB

ABC did a report on that.
The reason they don't apply is because of the ever increasing and extremely complex paperwork and forms they have to wade through. Even when some completed all them forms, some forms were LOST and those folks had to start all over again in TEXAS where this report took place!

 

[onthebottom]

ABC did a report on that.
The reson they don't apply is because of the ever increasing and extremely complex paperwork and forms they have to wade through. Even when some completed all them forms, some forms were LOST and those folks had to start all over again in TEXAS where this report took place!

EXACTLY, don't let the government do it, they will fark it up - who wants to go to the DMV for medical care.

OTB

 

[danmand]

and the poor (medicaid) and the old (medicare)

I've read that one third of the uninsured qualify for a program but they don't bother apply (probably young) and half make over 50k a year....

OTB

I was not being polemic or facitious, I am interested in understanding what kind of health service the poor and uninsured get, apart from acute emergency room services. And secondly, how does these services to the poor compare with the european national health services.

The rich will get great health service, no matter where in the world they live. There are brilliant private hospitals and clinics in most european countries, London being the foremost example. As you might also know, South Africa also has some of the worlds best private health services, AND a great general health service.

 

[WoodPeckr]

EXACTLY, don't let the government do it, they will fark it up - who wants to go to the DMV for medical care.

OTB

The TEXAS Governor was asked if the reason paperwork was so complex was to scare folks off from applying at all? He said since the numbers for those that apply are down the State of Texas is saving money and this 'approach' must be working!....

Government seems to 'fark it up' the most when Rs and party hacks are at the helm!.............

 

[onthebottom]

I was not being polemic or facitious, I am interested in understanding what kind of health service the poor and uninsured get, apart from acute emergency room services. And secondly, how does these services to the poor compare with the european national health services.

The rich will get great health service, no matter where in the world they live. There are brilliant private hospitals and clinics in most european countries, London being the foremost example. As you might also know, South Africa also has some of the worlds best private health services, AND a great general health service.

Medicare and Medicaid patents get the same service as the rest of us get.... best care anywhere.

OTB

 

[WoodPeckr]

Medicare and Medicaid patents get the same service as the rest of us get.... best care anywhere.

OTB

WRONG bot!
US ranked 37, in the last world healthcare report card, NOT NUMBER 1....
Plus in the US all doctors DON'T take Medicare and Medicaid patents.
Many greedly doctors refuse them outright.

 

[onthebottom]

WRONG bot!
US ranked 37, in the last world healthcare report card, NOT NUMBER 1....
Plus in the US all doctors DON'T take Medicare and Medicaid patents.
Many greedly doctors refuse them outright.

Doctors get to pick their patients here like in Canada - luckily we have enough doctors so we can all find one..... and there is no where I'd rather be sick than the US.

OTB

 

[WoodPeckr]

Doctors get to pick their patients here like in Canada - luckily we have enough doctors so we can all find one..... and there is no where I'd rather be sick than the US.

OTB

Try Denmark, believe they got the number 1 ranking!........

 

[onthebottom]

Try Denmark, believe they got the number 1 ranking!........

Please, 6m wasps...... that's like calling the Upper East Side a country....

OTB

 

[WoodPeckr]

Please, 6m wasps...... that's like calling the Upper East Side a country....

OTB

Watch your mouth there boy, or your JAJA will be calling you a rascist!....