1. Running Head: Sicko reflection 1
Sicko Reflection
Stephanie Knippa
HCA 306A: Health Care Economics
Professor Tokonitz
Warner Pacific College
May 24, 2015

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The world of healthcare and insurance companies have changed over the last few
decades. It the documentary Sicko by Michael Moore he showed us the gruesome world of
healthcare and the insurance companies in the United States. I remember the time that the money
was filmed, I as just about to enter high school. My Grandparents were aging and they were in
the market for medical insurance, I watched as they filled out the questionnaire and answer all
the questions. My grandfather was a firefighter, this was before they had the oxygen tanks and
masks they use now. He was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, he was also diagnosed with
skin cancer. They gave him 1 year and he lived well beyond that. But it the last year of his life is
was on oxygen 24/7 and was taking many medications. He was nearing the end of his life. But
because my grandfather also served they were granted insurance, but it was not very good and
they paid a large some on money for all of his medications. It is the exact issue I saw while
watching the movie. The seniors are paying more money for medications than they are for
anything else in some cases, and sadly sometimes they cannot even afford the medication.
What I notice about the National Health Service (NHS) is that they are funded by the
public, everyone who works pays into their health system. It is all covered at 100% by the NHS
and there is no out of pocket for the patient. It showed Michael asking different people in the
hospital “how much did that cost you” and everyone just seemed to laugh in his face. Why does
it seem that in other countries that the health system is mere perfect and the United States shows
flaws and imperfections? The documentary makes you think and question if America is the right
place to live? Is that why it is so hard to gain citizenship in other counties?
Since the documentary was filmed and released ObamaCare was introduced and changed
the ways of the healthcare system and insurance companies have also made some changes. You
went through an online exchange and shopped for your healthcare coverage. You got to pick the

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right plan for you. I had to do this and it took me three months of research before I picked the
right one. It suited my needs, and wants in an insurance plan. I was given a break on my
premium each month based on my income. They had different level plans from Catastrophic
(high deductible, low premium) to Platinum (high premium, better coverage). The deductible for
most plans was based on your income and how many people were considered in your “group”. I
do not feel that this is the answer to the health care crisis, because today there are still people
without insurance, and or they are paying a very high premium and their out of pocket cost are
high as well for office visits, and hospital stays. You are now fined by the government for not
carrying insurance, which I find to be crazy. If you do not want insurance, that should be your
choice and you can deal with the consequences. But to be fined for it seems to be that they are
still in the market to make money. The big question is where is that money going?
The deviations of 9/11 had a profound impact on the world, the men and women who
risked their lives to save others are now suffering. They created a fund to help those who were
affected by the time they spent on ground zero. It introduced us to a few people who were
volunteer workers, they were not paid by the state or the government to be there. They were
unable to get the help the needed from that fund because of qualifications needed. They then
were not able to gain health insurance, or they were not willing to give them the test needed.
Michael Moore found out that Guantanamo Bay was providing better healthcare for the most
dangerous, and wanted terrorist in the world, but those who were truly effected by the attacks
were kicked to the side. It sickens me to think that those people who tried to destroy us, get three
meals a day, time for exercise, and an on sight hospital for medical needs.
He later took that group of people by boat to Cuba seeking medical care from
Guantanamo Bay. They were of course denied access, and went into Cuba. They walked around

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and visited what was basically a pharmacy. After finding out that a medication that they pay
$120 US dollars for, they can get if for 5 cents in Cuba. It was a happy ending for all of them
who received care, treatments, test, and diagnosis of what they were suffering from. It was very
emotional to watch as these people, who risked their lives after such a horrible attack, were being
treated this way by country that was believed to hate the United States. Why wouldn’t the United
States take care of their own people like Cuba had done? It was all done out of the kindness of
their hearts. What was more touching was the honor they got from the Cuban Police and Fire
Department. It was a very moving moment to see them come together and honor each other for
their time served. Healthcare in America is all about making money and taking money from
Americans, it is not about the care and compassion of when someone is in need of care. There
has to some way we can change the issues with the health care system.
It is now illegal for insurance companies to deny you for having a pre-existing condition,
but it is not illegal for them to charge you more because of said condition. They plan to have to
pay for more office visits, medications, treatments, surgeries. Insurance companies are punishing
the insured for their health problems. In the past insurance companies have said that your too
have cancer, there were not going to approve your treatment or medication. Since when did age
become a factor in what you’re diagnosed with, or your height, and your weight? I agree that
some people have issues and it could change if they made life style changes in what they ate, or
much they exercised. I feel that in most cases people choose not to do anything about their
weight issue. It is a hard subject for me to defend because my opinion is: “If you want to be fat,
be fat, but don’t blame it on anyone but yourself and don’t as for pity if you’re not making the
right changes needed.

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It happens more than we know, people going across the border into Canada for care,
because they cannot get it here, they can’t get insurance, or they were denied the care by the
insurance companies. During the documentary we met a woman, who basically found a
Canadian resident to be her common law husband, so she could receive care. Yes they were
lying, but who was it really hurting? Do strict Canadians feel that we American are taking away
their access to services? I’m sure the Canadian government would not like that if they found out.
People are desperate and will do whatever it takes to get the care they need. Michael introduced
us to some of his Canadian relatives, but they would not come down to the United States, they
told him that they would not go into America without first buying health insurance. They
explained they knew someone who had gotten into accident in Hawaii and had to be hospitalized.
He did not have health insurance when he went stateside and had to pay them a large portion on
money.
During Michaels visit to Europe he met with a doctor who worked in the hospital. He
drove a very nice Audi, and had a million dollar home. He said he lived a comfortable life and
that he took home roughly 100,000 US dollars a year. It was amazing to me that they were also
given bonuses, based on getting people to stop smoking and if they reduced their blood pressure.
While us Americans are still paying a crazy amount for healthcare and over there they have free
access to care and the doctors are praised for helping others. The rich are getting richer and the
poor are getting poorer. Doctors in the states push for more surgeries and expensive treatments
because they get paid more money. It is all at the cost of the patient and insurance companies not
making the access to health care easy.
Healthcare is still constantly changing and it is going to continue to change as the years
go on. There has been a push several times in the past for Universal Health Care in America, will

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that happen? Probably not, It all comes down to money, Americans are greedy and wouldn’t
want more taken out of their taxes, insurance companies want to profit more and more each year
by paying out less to providers. It is going to be scary to see what happens in the next few years
with the healthcare system. I have heard those words spoken by a few people in my life and it
really makes me think about what the next steps are going to be with healthcare. Our access to
healthcare is limited, we pay the price for what happens, and no one should have to choose it live
or not. Insurance companies should take responsibility for the decisions they made and the
outcomes from those decisions. There have been great strides made to provide access to health
care coverage, but it is at a major expense, an expense that is only going to climb over the next
decade.