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Saturday, November 17, 2007

Sicko




Today I am grateful for time with my familia. I love my little family. I am also grateful that Chris and I agreed on a movie to watch at Blockbuster tonight within 2 minutes, because we usually have a hard time agreeing on a movie we both want to watch. Chris and I just got done watching Sicko. Everyone should see that movie. I know that a lot of people think that Michael Moore is extreme, but this movie seems like it appeals to your human side more than just being political. There are so many great things about this country, but why don't we take care of our sick? The movie wasn't even about the uninsured, but people who are insured who are still jerked around by their insurance agencies. I thought about Sofia when one mom talked about how her toddler daughter died on the ambulance ride over to a different hospital, because the hospital refused to treat her and sent her to one that was covered by her provider. I know I have mentioned that I get sentimental late at night, but I feel so sad that people here are many times refused service and end up dying because of it. If you have seen this movie, let me know what you thought about it.. and if not.. go see it and let me know what you think. I know that people like to keep blogs light and fun, but I am just wondering what other people think. OH.. the pictures of Sofia and Gabe have nothing to do with the movie, but I thought I would throw them in anyways.

6 comments:

Julie said...

I haven't seen this movie but I want to. When we lived in Provo I used to do billing for a bunch of doctors. I basically had to call and yell at insurances all day long to try to get them to pay on peoples claims. I really hate insurance companies! They're sneaky and mean!! I'll have to check this movie out!

juliette said...

Well it is a big problem because insurance is a business, so making money comes before people's health. Health care is one area where socialist countries have us beat. I'm glad sicko didn't refer to you or your family, I have say I was worried when I saw the title.
Our insurance is "samaritan select" and so far they have been great! Of course I don't know what would happen if something really bad (ie, expensive) happened.

juliette said...

I guess I should say SOME socialist countries.

adrienne said...

Okay, so this is a strange coincidence! We just watched this last night. I enjoyed it a lot. I enjoy Michael Moore's movies, but I'm not a huge fan of him because he's such an extremist. He's definetly an entertainer so that's important to keep in mind, I think. Anyways, makes me proud to be a Canadian!! (though his information on Canadian health care was a little too idealistic.) There are problems with our health care system, but it's still AMAZING!! As a Canadian, I could not believe some of the stories he showed because those things would NEVER happen in Canada!!! After watching the movie I still couldn't figure out why the US doesn't have universal health care.

Kara said...

Adrienne,
What do you think some of the weaknesses are of your system.... because the movie did paint a lovely picture of your system. Man... if we get really sick.. Canada.. here we come.

adrienne said...

Really there are only a few thing. Because there is no privitized health care, there are long waiting lists. Like a hip transplant takes a year or something like that. If there was some privitized health care here, then some of the wealthier people could pay for it themselves, which would make the waits shorter. People here are wary of privitization, because they think it's a slippery slope to becoming like the US. Also, we have a serious shortage of nurses and doctors. There aren't enough family doctors, but still that's not so bad, because people could go to walk-in clinic anytime they need health care. And finally, I don't know what hosiptal waiting room he was in, but it was obviously NOT a big city!! Emergency room waiting is ridiculous here. Actually last year, 2 women in miscarried while waiting to see a doctor at an ER in Calgary. They've been trying to make things better, but without enough doctors, there's not much they can do. But it's not always that bad. So even though those are problems, they are still not a big deal, considering how it could be. No one would ever, EVER be denied care, no matter what clinic or hospital they were at. It's a good thing! My brother is doctor here and even though he could make more, were he to practice in the US, he still makes a really good living.
So Canada's a pretty good place to be. We've also got 1 year maternity leave. Actually, it doesn't even have to be the woman- Denver took a few months parental leave after Thatcher was born, before he started his accounting job. It's not 100% of your income, but for most women it's worth it, especially if their's is a secondary income. Feel free to move to Canada!! Just don't drive across the border to go to the doctor like that lady in the movie! After watching the movie, Denver and I were saying we should move to France...