Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Jul 8th 2007, 4:55 pm
#46
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
As MM says in the movie, keeping people in fear, especially fear of losing one's job and with it health insurance, keeps them obeying like sheep. Health insurance available at one's job is both a precious asset and an albatross around the neck.
Jul 9th 2007, 12:09 am
#47
Who?
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
You can have good insurance and still not be able to afford to get well.
What would happen to someone who couldn't afford that $1400 and all the rest of it?
Is that when you sell the house, or is there other help available?
Looking at general house prices here, selling up wouldn't get you much treatment and where would you live?
Or do some people have huge savings just incase this sort of thing happens?
Jul 9th 2007, 1:44 am
#48
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,442
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
That is the thing that scares me most about healthcare here.
You can have good insurance and still not be able to afford to get well.
What would happen to someone who couldn't afford that $1400 and all the rest of it?
Is that when you sell the house, or is there other help available?
Looking at general house prices here, selling up wouldn't get you much treatment and where would you live?
Or do some people have huge savings just incase this sort of thing happens?
You can have good insurance and still not be able to afford to get well.
What would happen to someone who couldn't afford that $1400 and all the rest of it?
Is that when you sell the house, or is there other help available?
Looking at general house prices here, selling up wouldn't get you much treatment and where would you live?
Or do some people have huge savings just incase this sort of thing happens?
Lets put it this way, if the person I happen to know doesn't pay for the pills somehow........well..........
If he pleads poverty, the fact that he and his OH are both working wont help with getting county services........believe there is an income threshold for gaining access to these.
Even county services are no guarantee as they can vary wildy within and between states........still requiring some payments irregardless.
Jul 9th 2007, 1:47 am
#49
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,182
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
This is something that some people who say that 'you will get treatment even if you don't have insurance' often forget: they will treat you - but they WILL bill you for it. And pursue you for the money.
Jul 9th 2007, 2:25 am
#51
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Sure they will, it will happen. I think it will work like this: (simplified, because I'm ignorant) The govt will hire the current Healthcare companies to run the system as contractors. These companies will charge the govt; and the govt will charge us. Everybody gets healthcare and everybody gets a cut. Win win.
Jul 9th 2007, 2:30 am
#52
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
I'll be the first to admit I'm ignorant about the Medicare system. Is it a good system? I'd be suprised if anything run by the govt actually worked and wasn't a beaurocratic nightmare. I was thinking more along the lines of a US/NHS being a giant VA, which I haven't heard good things about.
okay?
Jul 9th 2007, 2:33 am
#53
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,442
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Sure they will, it will happen. I think it will work like this: (simplified, because I'm ignorant) The govt will hire the current Healthcare companies to run the system as contractors. These companies will charge the govt; and the govt will charge us. Everybody gets healthcare and everybody gets a cut. Win win.
......Govt hires the Hospital admin as direct contractors? Passes a bill to make Insurance Company involvement in Healthcare illegal?......Unless as an additional second option?
Not a bad idea that, a good start
.........lets just hope the Pres who's in office at the time doesn't visit Dealy Plaza tho..... 
Jul 9th 2007, 2:48 am
#54
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
I love Septics like you (not Biblically)......it means there's hope yet
......Govt hires the Hospital admin as direct contractors? Passes a bill to make Insurance Company involvement in Healthcare illegal?......Unless as an additional second option?
Not a bad idea that, a good start.........lets just hope the Pres who's in office at the time doesn't visit Dealy Plaza tho.....
......Govt hires the Hospital admin as direct contractors? Passes a bill to make Insurance Company involvement in Healthcare illegal?......Unless as an additional second option?
Not a bad idea that, a good start
.........lets just hope the Pres who's in office at the time doesn't visit Dealy Plaza tho.....
Jul 9th 2007, 4:27 am
#55
Former Floridian
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Back where I belong
Posts: 574
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Totally agree. In the UK, the healthcare isn't top notch and could implement changes, but whenever I had been to see a GP, I wasn't rushed out the door after 5 minutes, and I always felt that my issue was taken care of properly.
In the US, however, I felt like I was in a revolving door. I make an appointment, take time off work for it, sit in the waiting room for 45 mins despite having an appointment, see the doc, they throw a script at me that'll cost a f**king fortune (insurance doesn't cover scripts), and the meds don't do any good anyway. My employer pays for my insurance but I still have to pay a hefty deductible before any treatment is covered.
It's such a shame, because that is one of the major reasons why I want to move back to the UK. Praying that I don't get sick in the meantime........
In the US, however, I felt like I was in a revolving door. I make an appointment, take time off work for it, sit in the waiting room for 45 mins despite having an appointment, see the doc, they throw a script at me that'll cost a f**king fortune (insurance doesn't cover scripts), and the meds don't do any good anyway. My employer pays for my insurance but I still have to pay a hefty deductible before any treatment is covered.
It's such a shame, because that is one of the major reasons why I want to move back to the UK. Praying that I don't get sick in the meantime........
Jul 9th 2007, 6:00 am
#56
Bugger Off!
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,858
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Now they are having to movein to an apartment and file bankruptcy. All for a few short weeks in hospital and some home care afterward. In the hospital is a huge mural on the wall saying - serving the poor! Made me want to gag.
I should mention also that he is not out of the woods yet and his wife has been told that, should he pass, she will not be entitled to his teamsters pension. Makes you sick dont it.
Jul 9th 2007, 6:02 am
#57
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
The wifes grandpa just had a huge stroke. It is a sad tale I'm afraid, made more so by the fact that after working all their lives they now have to sell all they have worked for to pay for initial medical care and the after care involved. They retired some years back and sold their home to buy a bloody big RV. They would bugger off for the Michigan winter and head south every year. A happier couple you could not have met.
Now they are having to movein to an apartment and file bankruptcy. All for a few short weeks in hospital and some home care afterward. In the hospital is a huge mural on the wall saying - serving the poor! Made me want to gag.
I should mention also that he is not out of the woods yet and his wife has been told that, should he pass, she will not be entitled to his teamsters pension. Makes you sick dont it.
Now they are having to movein to an apartment and file bankruptcy. All for a few short weeks in hospital and some home care afterward. In the hospital is a huge mural on the wall saying - serving the poor! Made me want to gag.
I should mention also that he is not out of the woods yet and his wife has been told that, should he pass, she will not be entitled to his teamsters pension. Makes you sick dont it.
Jul 9th 2007, 6:06 am
#58
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,110
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Totally agree. In the UK, the healthcare isn't top notch and could implement changes, but whenever I had been to see a GP, I wasn't rushed out the door after 5 minutes, and I always felt that my issue was taken care of properly.
In the US, however, I felt like I was in a revolving door. I make an appointment, take time off work for it, sit in the waiting room for 45 mins despite having an appointment, see the doc, they throw a script at me that'll cost a f**king fortune (insurance doesn't cover scripts), and the meds don't do any good anyway. My employer pays for my insurance but I still have to pay a hefty deductible before any treatment is covered.
It's such a shame, because that is one of the major reasons why I want to move back to the UK. Praying that I don't get sick in the meantime........
In the US, however, I felt like I was in a revolving door. I make an appointment, take time off work for it, sit in the waiting room for 45 mins despite having an appointment, see the doc, they throw a script at me that'll cost a f**king fortune (insurance doesn't cover scripts), and the meds don't do any good anyway. My employer pays for my insurance but I still have to pay a hefty deductible before any treatment is covered.
It's such a shame, because that is one of the major reasons why I want to move back to the UK. Praying that I don't get sick in the meantime........
Jul 9th 2007, 6:12 am
#60
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mother Land.
Posts: 14,858
