Health Care Spotlight
Michael Moore’s latest film on the American Health care system comes out today and tomorrow in select cities. It promises to stir up a lot of controversy although, as the New York Times points out, much of it will likely center around Moore himself and not the problems facing the American health care system.
Surprisingly, traditionally conservative outlets like Fox News have been relatively positive about the movie, suggesting that Moore’s latest outing won’t be so much a partisan affair, and could actually begin the necessary dialogue to make changes in the upcoming election.
The reviews have indicated that Moore does not focus on the uninsured population but instead on the insured and the troubles navigating through private insurance. This is an issue that has been raised on this blog for some time (see here and here for instance).
Health care is not just a problem for people who are uninsured citizens, although no one can dispute the hardships they endure. Rather, health care causes enormous stress and difficulty for both the insured and uninsured alike. As for profit businesses, insurance companies inevitably make decisions about the type of health care they provide based on dollars and cents. Unfortunately, the government is unwilling to help consumers hold insurers accountable. In fact they are likely to help insurance companies shirk their responsibilities, with laws like ERISA which amount to a government tailored liability shield for insurance companies.
Let’s hope that 2008 turns the tide and opens the door for real reform and change in our broken health care system!
Comments (3)
Moore's film is not going to break any new ground. Everybody knows what the problems are, so how effective is Moore's message that the system has flaws?
It would be far more helpful for Moore to provide some concrete solutions to the problem, other than to say other countries have better health care systems than we do. France, Britain, and Canada all have challenges in their systems as well and are no panacea. In a Cannes press conference, Moore was expecting a lot of high-fives from foreign journalists. Instead, the Canadian press grilled him for glossing over the problems they are having.
We already have a universal system for the elderly that is going broke (which Moore fails to mention).
The issue is getting a lot of attention from Democratic candidates, but none of them have come forward with a plan that will offer a comprehensive solution to the health care and Medicare crisis with numbers to back them up. It's one thing to talk universal care -- it's another to truthfully acknowledge how much it's going to cost.
June 23, 2007 8:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
That Medicare is in financial trouble doesn't make it a bad program. It just means it's been underfunded. Billions have gone for other priorities (Iraq), and many have enjoyed lower taxes.
Then there is the prescription drug bill that's a sweet deal for Pharma.
June 25, 2007 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I propose repealing Medicare Part D and place the prescription drug benefit in Medicare Part B covering 80 percent of medications. Then do not charge an extra premium for the drug benefit, nor an extra yearly deductible, remove the coverage gap for the benefit and remove the means test for the drug benefit and for Medicare Part B in general that the Republican snuck into Medicare part B in the 2003 law. I also call for congress to enact HR 676 universal single payer health insurance for all non Medicare beneficiaries. How do I propose to get the above done? I tell people to send a letter to congress described in my signature.
You can change America today! Go to http://dmocrats.org and look for the comment with the title Send this letter to congress today! near the bottom.
June 27, 2007 8:18 AM | Reply | Permalink