Healthcare in the United States

I was scanning through the channels a few days ago and came across Michael Moore's new movie "Sicko." I was hesitant to watch it because I don't really like Michael Moore. I wasn't sure why I didn't like him, I guess because the media portray him as a half teller of truth, but what he was talking about sparked my interest. I was glued to the television and hung on every word, my mouth agape. I was stunned, mortified and disgusted as the facts of our healthcare system were revealed to me. By the end of the movie I was outraged.

It seems Mr. Moore has spent a great deal of time exploring health care in the United States as well as other parts of the world, like Cuba, England and France. He interviewed residents of these countries about their healthcare systems. He waited to hear the truth about government healthcare. He waited to hear the horror stories, but none came. He didn't hear about waiting months for treatment. He didn't hear about incompetent doctors. What he heard were happy and healthy people who were excited to be a part of centralized healthcare system. Happy people willing to pay higher taxes if it means health and well-being.

In these countries residents don't have to pay out of pocket to get healthcare. They have no premiums, co-pays or prescription plans. They do not have to choose a doctor from the list the insurance company provides and they can go anywhere in their country for services. Not only do they have these privileges, but these countries don't care if they have expensive problems, like Aids or Cancer. They care if people are suffering. They care if their families are suffering. They care enough to treat them with only the finest medicine and continue caring for them as long as necessary. Citizens of Cuba, England or France don't have to fill out a clip board of information before they are seen and are never turned away because they can't pay. They don't have to pay, ever.

I found all of this newly acquired information interesting. I was stunned that these systems actually work. After all, haven't we all heard the stories? Centralized medicine has been portrayed as bottom of the barrel care, but I beg to differ and I thank Michael Moore for bringing it to my attention.

So then, I wonder what happened to our healthcare system. When did we put dollars before civility?

The truly sad facts of American healthcare are its people. You can see the sadness in American's eyes when they watch the people they love suffer. You can see the sadness in their eyes when they are turned away for care at hospitals all around the country. You can see the sadness in their eyes every time someone dies from a curable or treatable disease. People in this country are dying and will continue to die because they can't get insurance companies to agree to treatments or surgeries. More people will die because they don't have health insurance. Do you know who these people are? This is our middle class and the poor.

I am one of the millions who are considered middle class. I have insurance, but really can't afford it. I can barely get by financially and don't qualify for state health insurance. I shudder every time someone gets sick in the middle of the night. The co-pay for an emergency room visit with my plan is $250 dollars. My deductible is $7500 per person. The bottom line is I cannot afford for anyone to get too sick. A little sick, like bronchitis is one thing, but surgery or a hospital stay would be a disaster of epic proportions.

The problem is not just for the insured faced with the debacle we call insurance plans, but is an even bigger problem for families who either cannot afford insurance, or work for companies who don't provide options. Many families work several part-time jobs and part-time employers do not offer insurance to their employees. Do you see the quagmire? Our government knows about all the sordid details of our healthcare system, but have we seen any action? How many people must suffer and possibly die because our government turns a blind eye?

I am aware that to some, I may sound overly dramatic, but honestly, I'm just stating the truth. The truth may be difficult for us to hear and some may turn away and never give it another thought. Perhaps they will think about it the next time they golf, or go to the plastic surgeon. Perhaps they will remember the next time they hear of another death because an insurance company refused coverage. Perhaps they'll remember the next time they hear of an elderly person going without food to pay for medicine.

What's interesting about our problems in the states is that President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as a hand-full of others in Washington want to pursue Universal healthcare, but can't get past the opposition. Democrats and Republicans can't meet in the middle and so the problem remains. It seems we are looking for the perfect plan, but does that exist? No plan is ever perfect. Some will complain about higher taxes. Some will complain that they're footing the bill for people who don't want to work. Some will complain that they shouldn't be paying for a junkie who overdoses and winds up in the ER.

While I am not thrilled with the idea of higher taxes I am thrilled at the possibility for us all to have health, even the junkie. Who are we to judge anyone else for their choices in life? Just because a junkie has an addiction does not mean they should be ignored. They are not less deserving because they have a drug habit, they are still human beings.

Universal health care should be America's future. The proof is that a centralized system does work as we've seen in France, England and Cuba. While I have serious doubts that I will live long enough to see universal healthcare come to fruition I will continue to be a supporter. I will never stop hoping to see us all receive healthcare. I will never stop hoping...