Sicko and the Health Care system in America

Response to the movie 'Sicko'.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Sicko
• Health
• Care
• America

[jediknight36]

From 2000 to 2005, health insurance premiums rose by 73%, compared to an aggregate increase in workers income of just 15%. (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 31, 2006) Premiums rose three times faster than wages and inflation in 2005 (UC Berkeley Center for Labor research and Education, Dec. 2006).

[jediknight36]

About one-third of medical spending is now devoted to services that dont appear to improve health or the quality of care, meaning the U.S. wastes more than $650 billion per year (IHSP), more than is being spent on the war in Iraq (John Abramson, Harvard Medical School, column, Los Angeles Times, Nov. 3, 2006).

[jediknight36]

Over 30% of every healthcare dollar is spent on administrative overhead in private insurance compared to just 3.2% in-Medicare administrative costs. (Institute for Health and Socio-Economic Policy)

[jediknight36]

The potential economic value to be gained in better health outcomes from uninterrupted coverage for all Americans is estimated to be between $65 and $130 billion each year. (Institute of Medicine, June 17, 2003)

[jediknight36]

Nearly 30% of low and middle-income households with credit card debt cite medical debt as a contributing factor; 69% of those had a major medical expense in the previous three years (Borrowing to Stay Healthy: How Credit Card Debt Is Related to Medical Expenses, Demos,The Access Project, January, 2007)

[jediknight36]

Half of all personal bankruptcies are caused by illness or medical bills. The number of medical bankruptcies has increased by 2200% since 1981 (Health Affairs, February, 2005). Two-thirds of people with a medical bill or debt problem went without needed care due to cost (Commonwealth Fund,Aug. 2005).

[patrick25w]

Americans are just silly people. They work until they die. THIS ist their American Dream.

I live in Europea, I get free health insurance, free housing, and free money for healthy-food.. I can live like a KING in europe. I would NEVERE EVER want this disgusting american citizenship. gross !

[geoffart]

well, I try to convince Americans the NHS generally works... but a lot of them just don't want to believe it (some socialism is good). You don't want the state to run your life, but there are some things private companies cannot run; the health service is one of those things.

[cwood4ever]

God youre fat

[ghazalhora]

i can see y this guy wants socialized health care......he gonna need it soon

[geoffart]

I believe Napoleon was under the revolutionary system. He wasn't overthrown; he was beaten on the battlefield. Before Napoleon the upper-class were overthrown because they lived in obscene richness whilst the rest starved.

[germagic2]

I am just like you, I work very hard and pay about 40% of my money for taxes and my home and I have no money left for insurance that cost about 400.00 a month per person. Hope things will change soon for all of us

[yosamc]

You've got to be kidding me. $25 -$50 thousand in medical debt? That's a big window. Which is it? 25 or 50. You got health treatment right? Just move to Cuba and you'll get what you want.

[anteracmacash]

isn't that the starwars kid ???

[iceblue775]

I feel you bro man this country is so f**ed up it makes my blood boil with rage, this insurance guys give a shit about the american people. All they want is our money. We the people should fight for our rights this is inhumane!!!

[aviomaster]

--- ABSOLUTELY IF I pay 400$ I want a HEALTH INSURANCE PROTECTION. I do not care ABOUT INSURANCE profits.