| There couldn't be a better word to describe | | | | time the little girl did arrive to the HMO's |
| Michael Moore's latest film "Sicko". | | | | affiliated hospital, the little girl |
| Traveling through the health care world in | | | | Mychelle, was pronounced "expired." |
| the United States brings on a new era of | | | | |
| realization of how "Sickening" the health | | | | Michael Moore also takes note of other |
| insurance industry of America really is. | | | | countries health care systems compared to the |
| | | | American system and profiles countries such |
| Almost 50 Million Americans live without | | | | as Canada, England, and France - all which |
| health insurance in America. As bad as that | | | | provide a free health care system. |
| is, some insurance companies make it | | | | |
| extremely difficult to get any insurance | | | | In Canada, they can give their thanks to |
| claims at all for the rest of the 250 million | | | | Tommy Douglas, who implemented the universal |
| Americans that do have health insurance | | | | health care system, known as the Universal |
| coverage. | | | | Medicare Legislation created in 1961. |
| | | | |
| Sicko, documents a case where a man had | | | | In England, they have the NHS - National |
| accidentally sawed off two of his fingers, | | | | Health Service, which provides the majority |
| the index finger and the middle finger. When | | | | of healthcare in England, from general |
| the man was taken to the hospital, he was | | | | practitioners to hospitals, long-term |
| given a choice - sew back the index finger | | | | healthcare, dentistry and ophthalmology . |
| for $12,000 or sew back the middle finger for | | | | Founded in 1948 it has become an integral |
| $60, 000 - his choice was to keep his index | | | | part of British society, culture and everyday |
| finger, and keep a place for his sacred | | | | life. |
| wedding ring. | | | | |
| | | | In France, they have a system which offers |
| This is not an uncommon story in the American | | | | unlimited sick days, vacation time starting |
| health insurance industry, as Sicko depicts | | | | at 4 weeks, and to top it off, free nurse and |
| that health insurance companies will do | | | | nanny care for new mothers. France was also |
| whatever it takes to deny a recipient benefit | | | | given the title of "best health system in the |
| claims. | | | | world" by the World Health Organization (WHO) |
| | | | in June 2000. |
| Another example from Sicko is of a child who | | | | |
| was taken to the nearest hospital, after her | | | | Why is it that countries like Canada, England |
| high fever of 104 would not come down. When | | | | and France are able to offer their citizens |
| she and her mother got to the hospital, they | | | | free health care, and be so generous and |
| were informed that their HMO, Kaiser | | | | kind, and then on the other side, the |
| Permanente, would not cover the little girls | | | | American system being so cruel and |
| health treatment costs, and that she has to | | | | cold-hearted? |
| be taken to a hospital that is affiliated | | | | |
| with their HMO Kaiser Permanente. After | | | | Sicko, explores the tragic and failing health |
| arguing and desperately pleading with the | | | | care system in the United States of America, |
| hospital to treat the child there, and not | | | | and can be viewed nationwide hitting the box |
| transfer her to a different hospital, by the | | | | offices on June 29th, 2007. |