"Sicko"

[angie007 0]

Hello all...Has anybody watched michael moore's "sicko"?.....since I watched it,it scares me to think that I will be living in U.S....I told my fiance that we should stay in Canada..but that's going to be another pain in the..you know what....it's already a pain waiting for the processing right now ..but anyways, can anybody please tell me if medical system in U.S.works like the one they showed in "sicko"

[♥Sora_9_Dam3a♥ 0]

haha...my husband was just telling me that everytime he tells people he'll be living in NYC, they gasp and tell him that NYC is full of crazies and thieves and all this crazy stuff...haha... i had to convince him that it's not what people think it is...

sorry, i haven't seen the movie...so i can't really answer your question

[angie007 0]

haha...my husband was just telling me that everytime he tells people he'll be living in NYC, they gasp and tell him that NYC is full of crazies and thieves and all this crazy stuff...haha... i had to convince him that it's not what people think it is...

sorry, i haven't seen the movie...so i can't really answer your question

well i guess we'll never know until we try living in there ourselves huh!!

[Eric_and_Corinna 0]

It's not as bad as Sicko...but it's not a great situation. My wife had a tough time trying to figure out the concept of premiums, co-pay, and deductibles. Luckily we have good insurance, for now.

Medical premium costs have been rising double digit percentage points for years. The number of uninsured Americans keeps growing.

Hopefully we'll see our next president worry less about war in Iraq and Afghanistan and more about uninsured children and those living under the poverty level.

[Army_Wife 2]

The health insurance aspect in the US is not great .... I have actually been reading a thread in the United Kingdom area of this site, where a lady has been unable to access health insurance in Florida, due to being overwieght of all things ..... this seems to be a Florida thing

However ..... I don't know of any health care system on this planet which is perfect.

Previous to the 90's , in the US, it was the norm to turn people away at hospitals even if they were dying, if they didn't have health insurance (my Mum was a nurse there, and found it shocking) ..... luckily the last Clinton in office and his wife (Hilary) started the change on that. No, I'm not getting into the politics of that ..... I remember it, I was living there at the time.

Now it is illigal for a hospital to turn you away if you don't have insurance .... but you will get a bill at a later date.

I understand Hilary Clinton is now attempting to discuss a similar NHS system to England for if she gets in, but is getting critisism for the charges for it.

No health care system can be free ..... it has to be paid for by 'someone'. Whether it's through taxes or from your own immediate pocket.

England has a National Health System which a lot of countries are envious of .... we may not get bills after treatment, but we are heavily taxed to have this system. Prescriptions are not free, unless you're unemployed etc.

I have lived between both countries for many years ..... and I wouldn't be without my health insurance in England too, as the NHS doctors are generally rubbish (especially where I am) .... and the waiting lists for treatment are diabolical at times.

And let's not forget that most hospitals in England have an issue with MRSA due to being generally filthy ... I have a cousin who caught it twice, while in hospital in England, and now has metals poles in her spine and legs etc!!!

I also personally witnessed one yound man who badly smashed his leg in 4 places 2 years ago, and when in the NHS hospital, they didn't want to do surgery, so, they put him in a cast and told him they'll see how it was going in 6 months or so!!!

I haven't seen the movie you're talking about, but I'm sure they could do a nightmare one on my local NHS hospital in England

My local NHS hospital is affectionately labelled 'The Risk'

Please note, that some parts of the UK have better NHS doctors (i.e. Bristol) ..... I happen to live in Cornwall, which is absolutely exquisite, scenery and lifestyle wise, but the doctors can be quite awful most of the time.

I personally believe it's all swings and roundabouts ...... however, it's true that the health system in the US is not great at times, as far as monthly costs are concerned compared to monthly income .... or overweight people not being able to get personal health insurance in Florida, so, I would suggest being prudent and looking into it before you arrive.

[♥Sora_9_Dam3a♥ 0]

haha...my husband was just telling me that everytime he tells people he'll be living in NYC, they gasp and tell him that NYC is full of crazies and thieves and all this crazy stuff...haha... i had to convince him that it's not what people think it is...

sorry, i haven't seen the movie...so i can't really answer your question

well i guess we'll never know until we try living in there ourselves huh!!

that's true

[Delicia 1]

Actually, after living in Toronto awhile, the health care system there isnt that great. I never qualified for it (as they considered me a visitor for my 2 years there) but I accompanied my husband on a few OHIP trips. The walk in clinics do not have ####### for labs and xrays and they end up sending you to the emergency room for labs/xrays and the wait time for just one of our 2 visits was over 5 hours just to get his name called and then another 2 hours for an xray tech. I personally, would rather pay for my insurance and get better service. You get what you pay for, in my opinion.

I will be disappointed if the U.S. does go for some kind of universal healthcare. It will not keep costs down, just increase taxes.

[mox 298]

Speaking as a raging tree-hugging liberal, I can tell you that while Sicko is not 100% accurate, it's accurate "enough." The health care system in the United States is the best that money can buy, and that's the problem. People can literally lose *everything* by committing the crime of being sick without adequate coverage, and it happens every day.

Something needs to happen. I don't mind paying extra taxes if that means everyone is covered, but honestly I don't think that would even need to happen. All we'd have to do is build a few less bombs, ships, and tanks, and invade a few less countries. Problem solved.

Edited February 24, 2008 by mox

[diadromous mermaid 36]

I haven't seen "Sicko" but I gifted office space to Michael Moore and we chat often when he slinks in the backdoor of my building, and have come to know him quite well. He's definitely got an opinion, and his work is intended to garner attention. Seems it did just that, eh?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Always going to be the good and bad with both systems!! If ya have the $$$, the USA system "could" be better. But keep in mind Insurance companies (all types, auto, not just health) are there for one reason and one reason only--TO MAKE $$$$. They want you out of the hospital as fast as possible!! Ya the Canada system can be flawed, depending where u live. Some places have more dr's, facilities (and less sick people) than others. In both systems if ur very ill and show up at Emergency, ur going to be seen and given treatment,just that in Canada, ur not going to be left with an expensive bill to pay!! And yes one pays more taxes.

I have yet to be sick here in the USA, but have been with my wife to emergency for a severely sprained ankle back in the Spring of 2006. We waited in Emergency for over 3 hrs, and it wasn't even busy, saw the Dr for maybe 5 min, had an xray and out the door. So maybe a total of 30 minutes (if that) getting treatment. The bill was close to $1500. Of course they break down the charges, think it was $50 alone for a urine pregnancy test, the exact same ones u pay like $20 at the pharmacy! We just had to pay our $20 deductible.

I do have a friend here in the USA that has very good insurance, and she has some serious health problems, yet cant find a DR. As many are not asking new patients, especially ones with a lot of health issues, that goes for Canada as well! MEANWHILE in Canada and the USA, there are perfectly trained DR's from other countries that come to North America, yet their credentials are not recognized, so they are first assistants, maybe nurse and some drive taxi! NOT saying that driving taxi isn't an honorable job, as it is--BUT they are trained as DR's and could most likely practice here right away, or with minimal training. No system is perfect, and no system suits everyone

Oh yes, this movie,or his others may not be totally accurate,BUT they do make one think and maybe question things,which I think is his plan!!

Edited February 25, 2008 by flames9

[DakotaK1 1]

In Germany we have a welfare system,everybody is insured even if your unemployed.

I do seriously think that some changes need to be made in the US with people being insured.

It is just really sad that people dont have a health insurance.

With a bit of luck the new president will change it.

[bora bora 1]

In Germany we have a welfare system,everybody is insured even if your unemployed.

I do seriously think that some changes need to be made in the US with people being insured.

It is just really sad that people dont have a health insurance.

With a bit of luck the new president will change it.

We do need a big change when it comes to insurance - too many people in this country are working and uninsured.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Angie....speaking as a Canadian who only just moved down a few months ago, my experience with US healthcare has been fine so far. After having lived in Ontario my whole life, I'm finding it refreshing to be able to get a Dr's appointment when I want and quickly if I need to come in that day with something like a UTI or a sick kid. I made an appointment with a specialist and I didn't have to wait 4-6 months like I did in Ontario. I love that I can go in and actually talk to my Dr about whatever I need to (not just 1 item per visit cuz he wants to charge OHIP!)

We pay a co-pay each time we go to the dr's office ($20/visit or $40/spec. visit) but we submit that back to our Healthcare spending account through benefits and get it backa few weeks later.

I find it slightly disconcerting that I have to pay each time and that they ask for my insurance card each time to check my group #/ id#...but mostly it hasn't been a big deal.

I do find it disgraceful that the United States Gov. can pay billions towards defence budgets and there are people at home who need care, badly. The conservatives will get on their damn high horse saying everyone should work harder and pay their own way, but honestly we are a vast country, with a huge variety of people and innocent children don't deserve to have substandard care.

That's my rant, i think it's important to have insurance, otherwise you're screwed

[Don_Joy's Prince 0]

I would say that Michael Moore is a SICKO, holding up Cuba as a model of anything when the whole country is utterly devastated due to socialism is beyond comprehension. But that will be the end result of Universal Health Care system.

Naive people that think they can get something for nothing will buy into it. To the detriment of us all.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Seriously...you think Universal Health Care system = socialism beyond comprehension ??

There is a happy in between sir