Parallels of current events with Michael Moore's film Sicko

Healthcare in the United States has become a big issue in today’s society. With Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) making huge profits, citizens are being charged outrageous amounts of money to cover their medical bills, and some are left bankrupt due to medical expenses. What an HMO does, is it allows a patient to choose a medical provider from a list of doctors within a certain medical group. However, the plan does not allow the patient to freely see any doctor. Both the doctor, and the insurance company must approve any referrals to a doctor, other than the patient’s primary care physician.
Michael Moore shines a light on this issue in his documentary Sicko, by targeting the insurance companies, and revealing where health care went wrong. Opening with profiles of several ordinary Americans whose lives have been disrupted, shattered, and—in some cases—ended by health care catastrophe, Moore makes clear that the crisis doesn't only affect 47 million uninsured citizens, but the millions of others who dutifully pay their premiums often get denied their treatments as well. After noting just how the system got into such a mess, Moore travels around the world, visiting countries including Canada, Great Britain and France, where all citizens receive free medical benefits. Finally, Moore gathers a group of 9/11 rescue workers suffering from crippling illnesses who have been denied medical attention in the US. He then takes them to Cuba, where they finally receive the proper care that they deserve.
Michael Moore’s film parallels to what is going on in the presidential campaign. For example, healthcare is one big issue that is being brought up between both senator Clinton, and senator Obama in the battle for the democratic candidate. Both senators have put forward their ideas for a reformed healthcare system. Hillary Clinton’s “American Health Choices Plan” offers health coverage for all Americans, and improves healthcare by lowering costs and improving quality. By improving quality it refers to insurance companies being unable to deny coverage to people who have a preexisting condition of illness. Clinton’s plan also focuses on small businesses that are not able to provide proper healthcare for their employees. Thus, Clinton offers tax credits to small businesses that provide healthcare to their workers. Obama’s health plan does not differ much from Clinton’s proposition, only that Obama does not support a mandated plan like Clinton suggests. What Obama proposes, is to make healthcare a guaranteed eligibility, and affordable premiums.
According to the Physicians for a National Health Program website, the U.S. spends twice as much as other industrialized nations on health care, $7,129 per capita. Yet the system performs poorly in comparison and still leaves 47 million without health coverage and millions more inadequately covered. Moore points out how healthcare is not an issue in countries such as France, England, and Canada. He mainly focuses on the matter of universal healthcare, and how it has been looked down upon in the U.S. because of negative propaganda. Political leaders who receive a nice compensation from big corporate “fat cats” who own the insurance companies usually look down upon universal healthcare. The fear that is created from the anti universal healthcare propaganda states that doctors in a socialized health system would not be able to perform at their full potentials, and not be compensated fairly for their work. However, when Michael Moore interviewed a former doctor in France, he pointed out how with socialized healthcare, doctors can still enjoy their lavish life-styles.
Universal healthcare is health care coverage that is extended to all citizens, and sometimes, permanent residents of a governmental region. Universal health care programs vary widely in their structure and funding mechanisms, particularly the degree to which they are publicly funded. Typically, health care costs are met by health insurance or taxation, or a combination of both.
In a great society, such as ours, it is a pity that we cannot provide what should be a basic human right, to all of our citizens, equally. The level or quality of healthcare should be an absolute right of all people, not a privilege of the few. Money should not be allowed to dictate that only some could live in good health while others suffer. The lack of universal healthcare is one of the greatest social inequities of our society. If we can have socialized organizations such as police departments, firefighters, libraries, and mail service, then I believe that having socialized healthcare can only be of a benefit towards the people. What the country needs is relief from corruption, and instead, have our political leaders care more about the people who help maintain this country.