Sicko!

I finally got a chance to watch "Sicko", the health-care related documentary created by Michael Moore. Wow! What a fantastic examination of a system that is horribly damaged.

The film centers around those who thought they had adequate health-care. Those who faithfully paid into plans that were built to take advantage of the American public. Health-care in America is great, as long as you don't get sick.

Moore has managed to bring together several stories that will chill you to the bone. One that I found especially alarming is that of Doug Noe and his family...

Doug Noe's daughter, Annette, was 9 months old and losing her hearing. The doctors said she needed cochlear implants. His insurance provider, Cigna, approved an implant in one ear. They stated that an implant in both ears is considered "experimental". Not satisfied with this conclusion, Doug wrote Cigna a letter. In the letter he let them know that Michael Moore was in the process of making a documentary about the health-care/health insurance industry and he indicated that he was relaying his story to Moore. Brilliantly including a note asking if the CEO of Cigna had ever been in a film before...lol.

Not long after sending the letter to Cigna, his case was reviewed and the mega-insurance company approved implants in both ears.

Does it take blackmail to get these companies to do what we pay them to do?

I applaud Doug's effort. It's a shame he had to do it, but it worked.

I hope all of you out there get a chance to see this film, it's very well done. Also, perhaps this will be a wake-up call to our legislatures. It's time to fix this failing system. How strong can a nation be if we don't have reliable health-care?

p.s. Also, I am still reeling from the story of the woman in the car accident. She had to be taken to the hospital via ambulance. Her health insurance company didn't pay for the ambulance ride because it wasn't pre-approved...I still haven't figured out how she could've got pre-approval...