- According to the film, what are the major problems with America's health care system?
- According to the filmmaker, why do these problems in our health care system exist?
- What was your reaction to the film? How did it make you feel? Why?
- What changes to the American health care system would you recommend? Why? What effects would these changes have on our society as a whole?
Monday, December 3, 2012
SICKO
React to the film Sicko. Answer each of the following questions in 3+ sentences. Be sure to include your name and/ or blog number.
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In class we watched a film about the American health care system and the major problems with it. One of the major problems in the film is that Americans in need of proper assistance are being neglected to get the proper treatment they need. Citizens in the middle class can barely afford to properly maintain their health. Even though America spends the most money on health care we have one of the worst health care systems in the world.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the film there are many reasons why these problems still exist in our healthcare system. One of the reasons is that insurance companies look for ways that they can get more money rather than helping people in need. This causes more and more people not to be able to get the proper treatment they need. Also, unlike other countries who provide health insurance to their people, America doesn’t offer this which causes people not to get the proper assistance they need.
Before I watched the film I had no idea about the American health care system and how it ran. But, after viewing the film it made me feel annoyed and made due to the fact that America spends the most money on their health care system but no one gets any benefits from it. Also, it made me feel this way because America is considered to be a very advanced nation but other countries surpass us and live more freely with all the benefits that they are given. Some of these benefits that can’t be found in america is a universal health care system that anyone can get.
To fix this problem I would recommend that upper class Americans pay more taxes in order to have more money in the government to create a universal health care system. This would affect our society by creating a new way for people to maintain their health. In addition,rather than having health insurance where their are limited benefits a universal health system will allow people to get the proper care they need anywhere. By taxing the rich more there would be more money to create a universal health care system.
--Parth Sojitra
America obviously has some major health care issues. The major one is the expense for health care. Since we don't have universal, which is paid for with taxes, we must pay an absurd amount in order to even remain healthy. Many countries have universal health care which means you do not need to pay for healthcare out of your pocket or even by an insurance company, your taxes pay for it. Also the availability for each citizen is not fair. Poorer people will not receive the same treatment because they cannot pay for treatments.
ReplyDeleteThe health care problems still exist because insurance companies don't care. They can find a way out of anything by digging into your history and all they want is your money. So many people can barely afford insurance, but then when they don't cover something that is apparently "not life threatening" so they won't pay, is even worse. All these treatments and procedures should be covered if they are necessary, just because you don't want to pay doesn't mean you have to make the person pay by death.
I really never cared about the healthcare system being I'm not in healthcare and it never really came up. After this film though I became really interested in this whole system and how it works. I realized that 1) American health care sucks, 2) most other first world countries supply universal healthcare, and 3) we needed to re-evaluate our ways. I kind of want to move to France, or any one of the other European countries that were shown because everyone gets free and equal health care no matter income or anything else.
If it were up to me, we'd have a universal health care system and people doing our laundry. Sadly, I am not the maker of this decision but we really have things we should do. By raising taxes on the richer to create the system, and to help it start going. Also we need to get rid of the health insurance companies because all they do is steal your money and not even provide proper care for you. With the concept of universal health care they do not look at your class, health insurance, salary, previous health conditions, or any other factors that can fit. If you're hurt, you're hurt. If you're sick, you're sick and that's all it should come down to. Proper care should be available to everyone and the US should provide us with that.
---8 (janelle)
According to the film, what are the major problems with America's health care system?
ReplyDeleteThe film pointed out numerous flaws in the American health care system. However, the problem I found the most problematic is how much power the health insurance companies hold in the US. The health insurance companies reject so many people from life saving operations/checkups so they can save money. It seems like the principle of helping someone is forgotten by those who people entrust their care in. Healthcare is ridiculously expensive and the normal American citizen can not afford anything; attaching part of a finger costed thousands of dollars which I thought was outrageous. It's crazy how much these companies influence and buy American politics, so instead of helping the American citizens, they help these companies rack up the money.
According to the filmmaker, why do these problems in our health care system exist?
These problems exist in our healthcare system because our politicians are too focused on making money than helping those in need. There was one segment in the film where the person who rejected the most people for care would get the biggest bonus. It's absolutely disgusting how these companies view health as a business and not a human right. The only people who can afford healthcare is the wealthy. The rest of America has to rely on their health insurance company, hoping they will not get denied care in a country built on the fundamental values of helping others and chasing your dreams. It seems like America is one of few first world nations that does not have universal health care because we are taught at a young age that this idea is too radical and extreme and the country will dwindle down a self-destructive path if we possess such a system. However, this health care system is not bad, of course there are flaws in it, but it seems like there's more good than bad.
What was your reaction to the film? How did it make you feel? Why?
I was honestly shocked and disgusted after I watch this film. I actually really want to live in Canada now. However, I know every health care system in the world has it flaws, but it seems like America is the big loser. It's weird how America spends the most in healthcare, but is not anywhere near the top for the best healthcare. People in our country are taught America is so great and the best nation in the world, but it's far from that. It's ridiculous that millions of people in our nation does not have health care and the ones that do have to go through a long procedure in order to get the medical care they desire. It's an unfair circumstance, that's being treated as a business.
What changes to the American health care system would you recommend? Why? What effects would these changes have on our society as a whole?
As I said in my last blog response, I believe in order to improve our healthcare system we must fully re-evaluate it, not make some changes. I believe Obamacare is one step closer to universal healthcare, but enough. There are so many people that do not want this policy and there are many who do want it. It's hard to cater to a nation who is divided on an issue that affects everyone. It's impossible to change their views, since most are so passionate about it. Taxes work for every nation around us, and I don't see why it won't work for us, oh I know why, because people think the word tax is synonym for the devil. Taxes worked in the past, and they can work now. However, living in a nation so divided it's impossible to fix a broken issue, that has been damaged for years. My solution? Move to another country or get super rich, not many options for equal health care in America.
~ 13 (tracy)
One main problem is the segregation of who receives health care. The poor can't afford health insurance and therefore don't have the opportunities to get medical attention. The middle class that pays monthly for their health insurance doesn't receive medical attention either, because insurance companies look for any possible way to deny a procedure. The only ones who do actually receive care are the rich who can afford to pay no matter what. The reason for the problem is that private corporations that run health insurance are viewed as businesses rather than an aid for the citizens. These companies buy off politicians that could orchestrate public health care for everyone. I was outraged at the film; however, there is not much I can do while the politicians that are supposed to represent honesty are looking out for their own wealth rather than the public's health. It was maddening to see people who pay so much for their insurance not get the treatment they pay for. I would recommend looking into the medical systems of Canada, Cuba, or England. In terms of healthcare they are far ahead of us. We need to take notes from them and us what works. These countries have proven that the plan works through the medical status of their residents. It would make the residents of the country happier and the life expectancy would increase. Every citizen could get the equal medical care they deserve.
ReplyDelete~3
The problems the film outlines are that healthcare is ran to make a profit, causing care to be below par, and sometimes non existent. The film clearly blames the government as the cause of these issues. Government officials are paid to endorse these causes, putting these huge companies into power over many peoples lives. My reactions is that I feel that it is outrageous how the USA pays the most in healthcare, yet we are ranked very poorly on how well its healthcare really is. The changes I would make would be longer paid maternity leave, universal coverage, and preventative care. I believe that these things will cause a better environment for children and parents, everyone will be able to live longer happier lives, and it would be cheaper for everyone in the long run.
ReplyDelete-1
After watching the film Sicko I have learned that the major problems for Americans healthcare is the cost which, even if payable by ones insurance, may not be paid by them. Even if a person is able to get through to a hospital and get the care they need there is still the threat that their insurance may deny the person their claim and take away their only chance for recovery. I saw this so many times in this movie proving again and again that Americans healthcare system is not the best it could be and some even tend to make false claims so that they do not have to pay for another persons health.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the filmmaker these problems in our healthcare exist because one reason is insurance companies dig deep into the files of others looking for any reason, no matter how small, to bail themselves out of having to pay for another. What seems like outrageous claims to others is a company’s way of making money by claiming a lifesaving medicine is “for testing purposes only” or the illness is “non life threatening” These companies dig as deep into a persons life as they can in an attempt to save themselves millions of dollars.
This film showed me how much people can be screwed up. I mean, really, I knew the health care system wasn’t all that good in America but denying others healthcare in order to save money. What kind of monster dose that? And than there are the ones who are willing to do the digging I cant remember if the movie mentioned it but can those people see that they are ruining the lives of others so badly. I wonder if those people question if they've ever taken another’s life or even if they care.
At this point free healthcare would be the best option. It could save so many lives so easily but than there’s the possibility that someone out there will find a way around it. We have to make so many changes, like multiple people (who have high morals) looking over documents to make sure that a dyeing person is not denied the help they need. And even with free healthcare there would be the problem of who would be paying for it because there would need to be some way for those doctors and nurses to get paid.
--11
1. Problems in our healthcare exist because the America is afraid of socialized healthcare. The thought of socialism is so absurd here, with people even threatening to flee to Canada (which, by the way, has socialized healthcare) to escape the idea of it. Why do we hate it? It is possible that we merely do not want to pay higher taxes now, on the off chance that we might get sick, because helping each other is not helping yourself.
ReplyDelete2. My first reaction to the film: I hear England's West End puts on good productions. The idea that I may not be accepted by a health insurance provider is frightening. When I was a kid, I got a serious bacterial infection and was rushed to the emergency room. Since the film showed the woman being dropped because she has a yeast infection, I kept thinking: that may happen to me.
3. I say that we universalize healthcare. Americans must learn to help each other, and not only when a natural disaster strikes, or a terrorist attacks, but all the time. We consider ourselves Americans due to our “noble” system of beliefs, however, killing a person because he does not have insurance, or she isn't covered at this hospital isn't noble: it's despicable.
4. Well, the number one change would be that everyone, whether you are rich, poor, black, white, citizen, illegal immigrant, covered, or uninsured will get healthcare. Sick people won't die, and accident victims won't be left with huge bills after surgery. However, I realize that taxes will rise, probably extremely high, after this switch. Someone has to pay for everything. But we are all paying for each other, correct? And if we are all paying for each other, isn't everyone paying for us?
~~~Emily (10)
There are many major problems associated with the American health care system. The most problematic, in my opinion, is the cost of health care. Health care is so expensive in the U.S, and those who need it the most are the ones who seem to be unable to afford it. Another problem with the health care in the U.S is that many people cannot receive the treatment, sometimes life-saving, that they need because their insurance companies will not approve it.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the film, these problems in our health care system exist because the insurance companies care more about the profit than about the human life. Insurance companies endlessly search for ways to deny a patient care that they need.
My reaction to the film was that it was extremely biased. Although the things Michael Moore was showing may have been true, he was only really showing one side of the story. He was glamorizing socialized health care and making it seem like living in other countries automatically gets you free health care. This health care is not free though, it is paid for by the extremely high taxes in these countries. This film also made me develop a hatred for insurance companies. I was outraged that some of these insurance companies were denying people care that could save their lives.
If it were up to me, there would be no changes to the American health care system. It is true that there are many flaws in our health care system, but I believe changing it would do more harm than good.
~6
DeleteWithout insurance, it is practically impossible to get optimal care for certain illnesses. People are practically being left to die just because they cannot pay their bills. People are selfish, and according to the filmmaker, that's why so many problems in America's healthcare system exist. Having universal healthcare is a great idea, but I don't think that it would work in America simply because of how much taxes would go up. And let's be honest, a good amount of people in America don't even pay their taxes. Many Americans are angered over the idea of universal healthcare because they think that every person should pay for themselves. What they don't understand is that just because someone can't pay for him or herself doesn't mean they should have to die. One part of the film that particularly made me think was when one woman was speaking about the unnecessary death of her husband from his cancer. It reminded me of when my father had cancer. He would have died if not for his health insurance, and I could be growing up without a dad. It's blatant hypocrisy that America praises itself on being a good and generous people if we can't even take care of each other's health. I think that the government should be somewhat involved in controlling healthcare because right now it is seen as too much of an industry. The people controlling it only want to make money, and in order to make money, they have to deny care to their customers. It's unfair, unjust, and immoral.
ReplyDelete15
ReplyDeleteAccording to the film, what are the major problems with America's health care system?
The major problems in the healthcare system of the United States is that everything is expensive. They had compared this to the British where medicine literally had only costed a few dollars in the United Kingdom. But in the United States it would cost over a hundred dollars. Therefore the healthcare system is awful because it is all centered on who has the most money.
According to the filmmaker, why do these problems in our health care system exist?
Because the nature of the human being is greed, and this greed drives the person to certain points such as this. Where in the United States patients are kicked out into the streets for not being able to pay the hospital bill. But where in other countries the hospitals would take you in and take care of you free of charge.
What was your reaction to the film? How did it make you feel? Why?
It made me feel quite disappointed of how the only place with free healthcare on United States soil is Guantanamo Bay. There are thousands of people getting kicked out of hospitals but yet prisoners in Guantanamo bay get a better treatment than them, in my opinion that is not right.
What changes to the American health care system would you recommend? Why? What effects would these changes have on our society as a whole?
Well first I would bring back the industrial age of the United States and start manufacturing quality goods in the united states then as the country's revenue increases that means taxes can be slowly raised. After there is money in the budget then free healthcare for everybody. Or we can just hire oprah and she will put some free healthcare under our seats.
kirill
According to the film, the major problems with America’s health care system are the high costs, people being denied care, and people being dumped on the streets from the hospitals. The American health care system is not paid for using our taxes; therefore we have to pay our own way there. Another problem is the system is denying people certain, most likely costly, procedures because it is a business and when they spend large sums of money it hurts the company. Lastly, within the health care system the hospitals are dumping people onto the streets that don’t have enough money. Some people can’t get insurance through work or elsewhere and have to pay out of pocket, but just can’t pay the bill. However, they don’t mention if you don’t have insurance or can’t pay the bill they can’t deny you and the people who were dumped on the streets were probably the few rare incidences.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the filmmaker, these problems in our health care system exist because health care is expensive and a lot of people just can’t afford it. Then, the insurance companies are not as interested in the people as they are in the money. Therefore, leaving the poor and now more middle class families struggling and not receiving proper health care.
My reaction to the film was that I would like to see a less one sided biased film. We are not a socialist country. I think the film completely neglects to mention that Canada and France, which are portrayed as having these wonderful health care systems, are a socialist country. A socialist country is a country where the government has the control over the economy. So it sounds good getting free health care over there in Canada and Paris, but basically the government is taking all their money through taxes and deciding for you what to spend it on. In the end it may seem like we are struggling horribly with health care while everyone else is living a fairy tail, but just keep in mind we have more freedoms. Life is not black and white, we are not all terrible and Canada and France don’t not have any flaws in their systems, so I would like to see a less biased film.
I would recommend personal responsibility and not looking for a handout or someone else to take care of you or do things for you all the time. I don’t think it is the health care system that needs to change, but the people. People just look to the government for help for everything and I think that needs to change. I think if people could look at things differently, we could come up with a better way to make our health care less of an issue. Other than that, I really don’t know what to say about this whole health care system feud.
-9 (Rachel)
1. According to movie, the major problems with the healthcare system is that the people who need treatment the most, do not get it because they cannot afford to have health insurance. Even if you do have health insurance, most companies will do anything that they can to deny you the treatment or help that might save your life.
ReplyDelete2. According to the film, the problems exist because healthcare is expensive and many people cannot find the money to pay for it and the insurance companies want to save their money and make more money more than they actually want to help people and grant them the money they need for the life saving treatments that they deserve.
3. This film scared me because I have never put much thought into healthcare and it made me afraid for my future. You never know when something bad will happen to you and I never want to be "too young' to have cancer and then die from it. The things that they denied people for were crazy and it made me angry that people will do that. I want to move to Great Britain.
4. I think that healthcare should be slowly turned into what Canada or Great Britain has because even though it would raise taxes, it would help a lot of people and would save a lot of people who need treatment and dont have the money, what they need. The effects would be higher taxes on things, but more lifes saved and longer life expectancy.
---2
According to the film, one major problems with America’s health care system is its cost. Even if a person goes into the hospital to receive care, they could still be denied by their insurance company. It is still possible to receive care if the insurance company dines you, but then you would have to pay on your own and many people don't have the amount of money that the procedure costs. Another problem that was told about in the film was that the US does’t have universal health care. This means that we have to pay for our individual health care. In other countries such as France, taxes pay for health care so that everyone can have it. This means that the poor and the rich will receive the same kind of care and nobody will be left out.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the filmmaker there are many reasons that these problems in our health care system exist. One of them being that insurance companies are trying to make as much money as possible instead of caring about their clients and what happens to them. Also, the insurance company doesn’t give people the type of treatment that they need to get to stay heathy.
I thought the film was very interesting. It made me realized what was going on in America verses whats going on is other countries. I thought it was unfair for lower class Americans to not get the treatment they needed just because the insurance company made up a reason so that they wouldn’t have to pay for it. The only reason why I do not believe this movie completely is because it is very one sided so I don't know everything about the health care system to be able to choose a side.
Based on this documentary, I would definitely change some things about the American health care system. First, I’d take away some of the insurance companies’ power since they can do practically anything they want with it. Also I would want to have universal health care so that all social classes were treated equally. I would hope that these changes would have a large effect on our society. Maybe the gap in social class would go down. Also doctors would want to help as much as possible so they can make more money instead of how they make money now by turning them away if they are too costly for the insurance companies.
-16
According to the film, some major problems of America's health care system is the fact we do not have universal healthcare. By not having this, many citizens are lacking the finances to be able to pay for healthcare. Medical costs are going up and not everyone can afford them without insurance-- I know my family couldn't. Many people have died and are slowly dying due to their lack of medical care. So many lives can be saved if affordable healthcare was accessible to everyone in the United States. If we had universal healthcare then this problem would be solved easily. These problems in our healthcare system exist because the insurance companies want to maximize their profits. Turning down clients to save money helps them achieve a larger sum of money in the end. Even besides that, sometimes insurance doesn't provide the right or the best treatment available, shorting you of your chances to recover. Although my family does have a decent insurance company supporting us, I did feel bad for the people shown in this documentary and do believe that something should be done to fix it. I wouldn't mind losing my healthcare in order to have universal healthcare where not only me, but everyone benefits from it. I would recommend changing our healthcare system to universal. Every person should be able to be treated equally-no matter what social status or wealth category they fall into. Being a part of the medical field, (especially insurance companies) is about saving lives and helping society, not about the money or social status. If everyone thought this way then we wouldn't have the issues that are present in America today.
ReplyDelete-14