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