One CORE member's evaluation of her trip to the movies

From John Curry, July 15, 2007
Subject: one CORE member's evaluation of her trip to the movies

CORE member June Hughes went to view "Sicko" at her friendly local theater in the Cincy area. Here is what she had to say. I wish that this film would come to Lima, Ohio but as of yet....nothing. If we could take insurance companies out of the mix....we'd be a lot better off. Then again, we can't contribute the $$ the healthcare insurance companies do to the political campaigns of both major parties, do we? Gee, we do however help contribute to these companies' profits....don't we!

John

From June Hugnes, July 15, 2007

Ok. Most of us have seen the bits and pieces on TV, etc. like the woman who was denied the ambulance paid because she (unconscious) didn't get pre approval. But some of the scenes were even better - IMHO. Emotions during this film run from hilarious laughter from the quick wit of Moore and his take on some things. There there's the anger emotion. Then there's the unbelief and lastly comes tears. At the end there was applause from the audience and then quietness as everyone walked out.

Moore first took the film to Canada by following a 22 year old with her little daughter taking a trip to Canada. She was refused medical care here for cervical cancer "because she was too young to have cervical cancer". She went to the nearest place to establish residency in Canada and told them she had lived in Canada for a few months but hadn't had time to get there to establish residency for all the things Canadians get for FREE! She knew someone in Canada and was able to use his address as her resident. She got FREE care for her cervical cancer. She hadn't even paid taxes there yet.

Moore then introduced us to his aunt and uncle (our ages) who live in Canada. He wanted them to come to the US to be interviewed but before they would come they bought 'special' medical insurance before they'd cross the border. The Canadians think we are nuts here that our government scares the people so much to do anything about out health care. It makes you want to go there to establish dual citizenship!!! He interviewed others but this helps you understand their care which is FREE FREE FREE! Well taxes pays the bill. Their philosophy is one person may be able to pay but there are many who can't and we should help take care of them too!!

Moore then went to England, same kind of stories. When a young man had surgery he still didn't feel well and the Dr asked him how he felt and he said her still felt badly. The Dr asked him if he called his employer to have 3 more months to get better would that be long enough. The young man said yes - he went to the South of France for vacation in the sun. His salary continued with the government paying 65% and his employer paying 35% of his full salary. There are many US citizens who now live in England along with in France.

In France he interviewed a group of about 8-9 30 year olds who were living permanently in France. They talked about the care along with day care for children, a one day at a time nanny who even did one woman's laundry, a Dr who was paid by the government an equivalent of $100,000-200,000 US dollars a year. He and his wife had a million dollar home, 2 cars (new Audi) and he said they were very comfortable and pleased and he wouldn't want to work here in the US with all it's rules and regs. He also said he got bonuses if he was able to get patients to quit smoking, lose weight, in other words become more healthy.

We've seen the boat in the water with the fire and emergency workers and Moore asking to come ashore to get equal medical care for these 3 PLUS there were others who had responded to Moore's plea for people when he asked for stories. Moore got over 25,000 replies for insurance stories. One of them was for cochlear implants in a 2 year old who would be deaf. The company approved one transplant but not the second one which the company said wasn't necessary. After contacting Moore the father called and wrote his insurance company (CIGNA) and asked if they wanted to have an interview with Moore etc etc. Lo and behold they got a call, which was taped, from the company approving the second cochlear transplant. An unhappy one was the refusal to give a proven method to rid cancer in this woman's husband. She worked for a hospital but the company refused along with the hospital's review board to give him the care he needed because it was experimental (it's proven that it helped others). Three weeks later her husband died and could have lived. There is a scene with a Dr who worked for a health insurance company and made 6 figures because she was so very good at denying care. Those who deny care MUST refuse at least 10% for care. She did better than that and was promoted and given more and more money because of it. She quit her job and testified to our wonderful do-nothing congress. It seems Aetna, CIGNA, HUMANA and a couple others are the ones mentioned the most.

Back to the 3 NY emergency responders. Before they got into Cuban waters the Coast Guard stopped them and Moore had to explain why, which he did. They let him go on. BTW, Moore had 3 boats going there. When he got near Gitmo, there were barriers in the water WITH mines surrounding the area. Moore stopped and shouted who he had in the boat and he wanted these people to get the same wonderful care as, testified in the media by the military, that the prisoners got. A siren went off and they were not allowed to enter. Soooooo, Moore went to Cuba itself. As they walked along the streets, they asked a Cuban on the street where was a Dr, a hospital etc. The Cuban citizen pointed all directions for the many medical Drs available and the nearest hospital. Moore took them to Drs and then to the hospital where they saw Drs who specialized in the emergency workers problems. One was a female EMT who had a terrible lung problem with awful coughing that never seemed to bring up anything and she said it felt like her lungs were burning. She spoke Spanish and was able to translate and speak easily to the Drs. She cried after her tests when they told her they could help her. {{{Moore had taken her to a pharmacist (who said he had no time to sell soap and perfumes) where they hoped she could get a refill of her inhaler.}}} Are you ready???? She pays $120 in NY for each inhaler which she needs at least 2 a month. She can't work and is getting $1000 a month to live on. She was able to get her inhaler in bad Cuba for 6+ pesos - which is 5¢ US!!!!!!!!! It was the same box, exact same thing as hers. Remember this cost her 5¢. She said she wanted to buy a suitcase full and take it back with her. After her diagnosis, she was given the necessary drugs and instructions for future care. After each person was diagnosed they were each given instructions about what to do and most were able to reduce the amount of medications they needed. One firefighter needed a final test for diagnosis but couldn't afford it in the US. In the Cuban hospital it cost him NOTHING! I realize this may have been for the camera's benefit to show the world but I know my mouth must have dropped when I saw the care and then NO COST in a 'supposed' hostile government. Moore was also seen being checked on. That must be the reason he's working on losing weight!!!

This makes you want to cry and shout and scream and smack somebody. This needs to be shown in our state legislature hallways. But would they believe it, probably not since our US Congress hasn't done anything YET!!

If you have any questions please ask away. I know I've left things out but hopefully this is enough to get the idea that the US spends more per patient but is lower than El Salvador and just above Slovenia for our health care. Our health care fits into a third world countries category!!
June
PS I get emotional writing this so I hope it makes sense!!