I watched Michael Moores film Sicko last night about illness (in general), and health insurance in the USA. I cant believe that any decent, developed country can act like that.
I know you only see one side of the argument on the film but I'm really glad I was ill in the UK and my heart goes out to anyone who has to deal with that minefield in America. Is it really that bad?. Hagg.

Hi,
I've not seen it but a girl in my class told me about it. I'd wondered about it too.

Hi Susie, it was shocking. One example was people getting refused cancer drugs or treatments on the basis that they're classed as experimental so aren't covered on the insurance, just a way of getting out of paying up. If you get the chance I would recommend seeing it. Hagg.

I've seen it and have been inundated with reviews, comments, musings and opinions even before it was released. As with most muckraking, much is true, more is untrue or based on faulty statistics. It is absolutely true that insurance companies will not compensate patients for experimental drugs; on the other hand, NHS does not approve many treatments and meds that are standard in the US.

The debate goes on here; conservatives say that what the rest of the Western world has is socialized medicine, socialized-anything being something despicable. Liberals (I count myself as one) believe that health care is a right, not a privelege, and that government should step up. How? I dunno.

What we do see are lots of statistics, documentaries, reports, etc., on how poor some of the 'socialized medicine' plans are in other countries, including your own and of our good neighbor to the north. These 'facts' may or may not be true; it all depends upon who's reporting them.

The last thing I really want is to debate this here - I've seen another cancer board fall apart because of divisiveness over another matter, much less charged than this. Anyone who'd like to PM me is more than welcome to!

Mimi

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mimi McC,

Hi guys, Did Not see the programme but I say most is true.
WHY? I visited Vicke Lynne in Vegas and its so sad that they even had to down size house to pay for treatment.
A pet scan or any scan for instance cost £1,000
and everytime she goes the Doctor wants her to have a scan.
Not only that things have been done to Vickie which was neglent but the Doctors are not acoountable and alll she caan do is find another Consultant.
We are so lucky here with Cancer in the US if your not rich you will die.
Yes people are turned away from A & E if they have no insurnace .

Paul
Paul

Yep !!!! I am in total agreement with this ,the tabloid press and also TV documentaries are there to only express the opinion of researcher for the programme or the point of view of one person or small number of people in the tabloids.

As viewers and tabloid readers we should be aware the prime object of either of those means is to engender viewing figures and paper sales, they are a business and need to make MONEY > So the more contraversial they are and the more scandalous the newspaper story is the more interest they create .

The up shot of all this is that whatever the debate or revelation, it catches the eyes and ears of the general public and alerts them to problems that affect everyone at some point in their life .Hopefully people will take note and make decisions as to whether they wish to stand up and make their feelings known to the respective company or government body and rethink voting options etc .

So many people have opinions on things but keep them for topical discussion amongst themselves, but do not all get together to do something constructive about it .Here in the UK I sometimes feel we are a nation of Uncomplainers and just truck on and leave it for someone else to shout up.

It is quite typical that when you are struck down with an illness like Cancer or some other life threating condition and you find yourself plunged into a situation and treatment you have no expertise on ,within a short period of time you become aware of the shortfalls and compare to other countries,only natural because we are seeking a life line and best treatment.

I suppose the final conclusion to all this is MONEY ! If the government is not putting the funding in and dragging its heals in this area then its the Government that needs to be addressed etc .

This is one of these debates that like religion is of a personal nature and experience,depending on which country a person resides .
The media has obviously done its job well as it has stirred up a hornets nest as it was intended .

Thats my wee warblings for this morning folks.

Best wishes Bell.

Hey guys, I have to say I agree with Mimi, though I am not a true liberal, mostly because I do have conservative views too. I am in the US and getting excellent care. I will say insurance is a pain in the butt. But I have never been turned away for not being able to pay. My doctors do not request scans at the drop of a hat. Honestly, in my opinion neither our health care system nor anyone elses is perfect. The patient is ultimately responsible for their care. That is the sad part. I think patients have to arm themselves with knowledge about their particular illness or problem. I have done that and when I have questions I stop my doctors and say we are not doing that until I understand why we are doing that. As for experimental drugs, Mimi is also correct. While our insurance won't cover them there are many drugs we have here that other countries don't have. What I am saying is that the movie portrayed half truths. Michael Moore is kinda famous for that, while I agree with some of his ideas I also think that too many times people are trying so hard to get attention for certain problems that they forget to gather all the information even the parts that don't meet their agenda. We here in the US often hear horror stories of people in Canada waiting months and months just for an appointment to see a specialist. As you guys know for Head and Neck patients this can be a death sentence. We don't have months to wait to begin treatment.

I applaud everyone's opion here and maybe this is how a resolution to health issues begin, but please be aware that while some of that material is true not all of it is true. I am sooooooo not a rich person and I am struggling to pay my medical bills. Not having to downsize, but struggling. Yes it is a problem, but the quality of care I am recieving is wonderful.

I hope I have not offended anyone. I feel this is touchy issue for many of us.
Leann

Cheers for the feedback on my post. It's good to hear from people with first hand experience. Hagg.