I went to see "Sicko"

[Black]

I agree that the US health care system needs a lot of improvement, but overall, in most cases, it's available for the consumers who make the effort to get care, and make an effort to pay what they can afford.

My husband and I have not been able to get any insurance coverage for more than 15 years due to pre-existing conditions.  Yet, despite that, we have been able to get the medical care we have had to have.  We've both gone way too long between dentist visits, annual physicals, and eye exams, but anything which required immediate attention we have gotten either free, or greatly discounted.

The surgeon for my gallbladder surgery cut his fee from $2,500 to $1,000 and is accepting $30 a month.

The radiologist who did all of my leg vein mapping (three times!), arteriogram, broken wrist, metatarsal inflammation scans, and all of Mike's fistula vein mapping wrote off my entire balance and half of Mike's!!

The hospital has not charged us anything for about 5 years and has done all of our bloodwork, which includes my frequent testing for thyroid levels and all of Mike's monthly pre-dialysis BUN and creatinine checks.

The podiatrist who diagnosed my foot problem and sent me for orthotics cut his fee from $125 to $65 because I asked him to, due to us not having any insurance.

The prosthetic place cut the price of the orthotics from $300 to $200, when I told them I had no insurance.

PPA and the drug companies got us most of our meds either free or very cheap.

The dialysis clinic where Mike is going, where we trained on the NxStage, has not charged us one cent and said they never will.  They accept Medicare as full payment.

The Kidney Fund even helped us pay for the campground where we stayed during training and when we get the water hook-up for the PureFlow done, the Kidney Fund will help pay for that as well (We're still waiting for the plumber to work us in -- we agreed to wait at his convenience in exchange for a discounted rate.)

My GP lets me see the PA for my routine thyroid checks and my monthly B-12 shots, and an office visit is $30 instead of $80.  When I see the GP twice a year it's around $120.  I don't waste their time, and if I have a question, I keep in touch by e-mail so they can reply at their convenience.

It takes effort and lots of research to know what to ask for and who to see, but so far my big complaints have not been access to health care or the cost, but rather the blatant ignorance, stupidity, and incompetence by some of the so called "professionals".

[BigSky]

when you're offended by the truth, it's time to take stock

who says your opinion is the truth? I think you are biased against my country - you can twist things however you like.(Just like Moore)

VERY WELL SAID GLITTER!!

[ahamner]

Light Lizard Speaks (from his website)

"If a man does not stand up for anything at all, he is barely alive.

If he stands for something, anything, he will have those who oppose what he stands for; 'Enemies.' This is inevitable.

If a man's 'enemies' are fools, braggarts and uncouth boors;

He is on The True Path."

The unanswered question in this homily is who gets to decide who are the fools, braggarts and uncouth boors.  The answer is easy, just look in the mirror.  So given a philosophy of dismissing an opposing point of view as coming from fools, how can one possibly be wrong about anything?

This seems just a tad arrogant to me.

[George Jung]

There is not really an unanswered question here.  No one decides who the fools are except they themselves.  If a man stands for something such as peace and good will and "enemies" come forward and oppose him, it would be those individuals or groups that would be considered foolish, uncouth boors, and braggarts.  It is not the man taking the stand that is deciding who the fools are but rather the actions of the opposition of his stance, that dictate their foolishness.

Michael Moor is very good at what he does.  Yes, he puts a bunch of money in his pockets and he keeps alot of attention focused on himself, but he also is the reason for starting many, many threads such as this one and numerous debates about the various topics he discusses.  Whether or not he is 100% accurate or free of bias is for the nay sayers to argue about.  What is important to me is that he gets people involved.  It is then up to those individuals to gather information and make their own decisions and take a position. 

Would so many people be talking about healthcare systems right now if it were not for Sicko?

[Slywalker]

Interesting thread - I'll get slammed because I happen to be somewhat a fan of Michael Moore.  I think he brings topics to the public attention that need discussion.  Many of his facts were absolutely correct - in every documentary that he has done.  Does he make some glamor where there is none?  Perhaps.

Americans have long become a nation of people living in fear every single day, living in oppressed conditions, feeling they don't really have a voice yet not really trying to have a voice.  Is the Universal health care system the best there is?  Maybe?  Maybe not?  But it may be better than what we have.  And for the lady who waited eight hours to be seen in Canada - the same can be said for waiting in American emergency  rooms.  Guess that is universal to the continent.

I do believe that we are fighting a war that isn't our war.  We are spending billions and billions of dollars overseas that could be spent in the United States.  Kids are going hungry.  College students have huge debts.  Health care is sporadic or in some cases nonexistent =- depending on what part of the country you live in, etc.  The list is long of national issues but they get no attention because of the war.

At any rate - whether Michael Moore's docs are biased or not - he does bring these discussions to the fore front - if even for a few months.

Sandyb
 

[ahamner]

There is not much controversial about "standing" for peace and good will.  The controversy usually begins with different opinions on how best to achieve these lofty goals.

The same thing can be said about a "stand" that everyone should have the best healthcare available. The controversy is how best to achieve this result.  Michael Moore appears to have an opinion and stance that a government run health service is the best way.  Others have different opinions.  The best choice should not be decided by assuming dissenting opinions from one's own come from fools.

Being a recent transplant recipient I wonder about the wisdom of Medicare (a US government run program) deciding to cut off coverage for anti rejection medications three years after transplant when they are needed for life.  The government I guess then assumes you are cured.  Besides, if you can't afford them, you can always go back on government paid dialysis after your transplanted kidney rejects and fails.  Is this good healthcare given the shortage of available kidneys for transplant?  Government bureaucracies have a way of coming up with these kind of rules that seem to be shortsighted.

On the other hand, as a former dialysis patient, I was frustrated by my private insurance drug coverage on phosphorus binders.  I started by taking Phos-Lo which is primarily calcium and, for me, it did not control my phosphorus levels well and caused my calcium levels to be too high.  I switched to Fosrenol which did a great job on my phosphorus levels with no calcium problems.  The problem was my insurance company's panel of doctors decided that the Phos-Lo was the preferred drug so I had to pay out of my pocket a much higher co-pay for the Fosrenol if I wanted to adequately control my phosphorus levels.  This is an example of a private insurance company bureaucracy rule that didn't make since to me from a healthcare standpoint. It was strictly a cost based decision.

So I hope the ultimate decision in the US about how to achieve good healthcare for all will be based on a careful analysis of the options considering facts and actual experiences rather than propaganda designed to promote a single point of view.

[ahamner]

Americans have long become a nation of people living in fear every single day, living in oppressed conditions, feeling they don't really have a voice yet not really trying to have a voice.
Sandyb
 

Thats not the America I live in.  If things are so bad here why are we talking about building a wall on our border to help keep illegal immigrants out rather than to keep the "oppressed" nation of people in like they did in East Berlin.

[Sluff]

Interesting thread - I'll get slammed because I happen to be somewhat a fan of Michael Moore.  Sandyb
 

As he comes off the top rope and body slam...... all in good fun Sandyb.

[bdpoe]

SHADES OF "SICKO"
Thousands of Chronically ill medically needy legal Floridians, many with
Medicare are being denied benefits, care and meds due to the new
Medicare program rolled out in 2006.

Essentially these patients are caught in a Medicare/Medicaid delemma
and as the situation grows worse, state and federal elected officials and
agencey administrators are passing the buck and doing little to rescue
citizens in serious trouble.

Aids patients, Kidney Dialysis patients, and those with severe breathing
problems (among others) can expect things to get evern worse!
.....bd

Florida may take hit on Medicare payments
Orlando Business Journal - 11:01 AM EDT Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Impending cuts to Medicare's home oxygen benefit will hit Florida harder than
any other state, according to an analysis by _Avalere Health LLC._
(http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/gen/Avalere_Health_LLC_1FCAB5D3F5D241DC98E8B0CE69B25
19D.html)
The analysis found about 19,700 Florida residents would be affected by the
change. Texas is the next hardest-hit state, with 17,400 residents affected,
the study found.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003
are responsible for the pending reductions in the reimbursement rate for the
home oxygen benefit, according to a release from the Council for Quality
Respiratory Care, a Washington, D.C.-based group of the nation's leading home
oxygen therapy providers and manufacturers.
The cuts would total $710 million in 2009 and $855 million in 2010, and the
reductions in funding amount to an 18.8 percent reduction in the reimbursement
rate, the release said.
The Medicare Modernization Act requires Medicare to put in place competitive
bidding for some types of durable medical equipment, including oxygen
equipment. The Deficit Reduction Act imposes a 36-month cap on the monthly payments
Medicare makes to home oxygen providers for equipment rental services. About
one in five Medicare beneficiaries use home oxygen for more than 36 months
and it's not clear how those beneficiaries' services will be funded after the
cap period, the release said.
The changes will affect a significant portion of the more than one million
Medicare beneficiaries with chronic lung disease who rely on home oxygen for
health and independence, the release said. Patients who use home oxygen therapy
are less likely to go to the hospital.
Home oxygen therapy currently costs the Medicare program $7.62 a day, versus
as much as $4,600 a day in the hospital, the release said. After full
implementation of the competitive bidding process and the 36-month cap, daily
reimbursement for home oxygen therapy is expected to fall to between $4.50 and
$5.50, the release said.
Avalere's data analysis is on the company's Web site at
_www.avalerehealth.net/wmdocs/3309_AH_Longterm_V8.pdf_
(http://www.avalerehealth.net/wmdocs/3309_AH_Longterm_V8.pdf) .


 

[Ohio Buckeye]

I would not see his movie.
I don't want to put any of my money in his pockets.

[waitlisted]

I saw the movie and I think it was pretty good. Yes, it is exaggerating issues and showing issues bit too black and white, but that is same for many documentaries having political agenda.

However I don't think anyone can say that he is not bringing up a valid point. What he doesn't bring up very clearly is that in the countries with "socialized health care" people are paying much more taxes to cover the costs of the "free health care".

I personally hate paying the taxes and being in the fortunate situation and having a good insurance from my employer, I have not had any issues so far with the coverage. However I don't like the idea that so many people are without any health care and even if you have a coverage the insurance companies keeps denying the care. It sounds like in US there is sick care instead of health care, i.e. if you get sick you get care assuming you have insurance, but there is not so much emphasis on trying prevent you from getting sick in the first place.

I am originally from the country with "free health care" and high taxes. Like said, in my current situation I am very fortunate and happy, but for sure if I ever start having problems with the insurance company about the coverage I will move somewhere else.

Another issue mentioned in the film is the current medicare prescription law. I really cannot understand the point of not letting medicare to negotiate the drug prices with drug companies. Shouldn't it be obvious in capitalist world that if you buy more you can negotiate better discounts...?

There seems to a lot of prejudice about the movie depending what is one's view on Michael Moore. I would suggest everyone be openminded and watch the movie first and what to think about it and at the same time be skeptic enough to remember that everything what is shown in TV is not fact regardless if it is coming from movie director or from the government.

[okarol]

Yes, you could always move somewhere else.

[Wattle]

Sicko has just started screening down here    .

I intend on seeing it, not to help line Moores pockets, but to try and understand your health system a little better. I am still struggling with the problem of affordable transplant meds. I can't believe patients have lost transplants due to the cost of the medication. Don't misunderstand me, our system has its faults too. I don't think any system is perfect.

[paris]

When you see it, please do not judge the U.S. health system on Michael Moore's thoughts. It is a "film" not a "documentary".  All systems have problems. Some countries don't transplant after a certain age. I hope the day comes when we all can have equal treatments world wide.  Isn't it amazing we can all gather here and compare?  Another reason I love it here!