Does Sicko Put America to Shame?

A few weeks ago I was one of a few lucky viewers to see the movies Sicko and I admit I was skeptical at first. I was telling my self that this is America one of he richest and modern countries in the world... could we be so cruel? So I went into the movie and got more than I information about health care than I wanted too...

This movie showed interesting stories of people that put there lives on the line for us and in return got hit with health bills and loss of income all because their insurance tried to put up loopholes to get out of paying. It showed the perspective of victims, people that work for the company that are FORCED to deny people who are really suffering, and from the under privileged. Compared to America almost every country in the world has some form of unlimited health care with average to good equipment. It showed health care in Canada, France and Cuba...yes CUBA...and compared them to the USA. With doctor programs free in CUBA they turn out a much higher rate of doctors and so thy have about once doctor per 200 citizens compared to America with once doctor to 400 citizens. They typically send many to poorer countries around the world including in Africa. And many small towns have free yes FREE doctors they can go see.

How is this possible you ask? The government pays the doctors. For example, in France the doctors are paid very high salaries because the longer the keep the patient alive and diagnose properly the more they get paid. This in turn sets up other health care systems such as on call doctors that come to you no matter where you are at 24/7 to take care of you. And medication is just a fraction of the cost there compared here. The woman from the movie got an inhaler for 10 cents versus 20 or 30 dollars in the USA. Plus in some counties non-conventional therapies are welcomed. (Think acupuncture and light therapy.)

The movie also highlighted the biggest and probley most interesting thing I have ever seen. There were Americans sneaking into Canada for the healthcare and some even taking the drastic measure of moving to Europe. Now I know you're asking yourself why is it free. Because (and here comes the catch) taxes are a bit high but to me paying a few cents extra for that coffee or meal is worth it if I need medical attention. Oh ya and in some hospital in Europe when you check out they actually will give you money for a taxi or bus to your home.

So America im asking why is it right for a EMT to drop a homeless woman in the middle of the street because the shelter was full. Or let a woman, because she had no insurance die on the floor while taunting her. And worse the people that were focused on in this movie were workers from the 9/11 site...didn't get any compensation for there health problems incurred after the visit to the site. But they go to CUBA an "enemy" of America and get the best health care possible. So next time your in your doctors office and complain about that co-pay think of the people that don't have that luxury and are forced to do drastic and sometimes illegal actions just to have the right to the same health care or better.