SiCKO
I saw Michael Moore's new film SiCKO last night. Via the miracle of BitTorrent, a friend of mine downloaded a copy of the film pre-release and so I got to see it here previous to its NYC release (tomorrow). I'm not going to say who downloaded, as it seems that film producer Harvey Weinstein is mighty pissed off about the pre-release piracy. Here's what he said to the NY Post: "We created lots of phony sites, and people had to input their private information to gain access to 'SiCKO.' We are turning over all the information to the police and prosecutors and are stopping Internet piracy."But back to the movie, which has gotten largely good reviews from those who do that. After a little over two years here in Argentina, covered by the basic national healthcare and then covered again by OSDE 310, I've forgotten the sensation of living in utter economic fear of ever getting sick or hit by a car, as I often did in the U.S. I say economic fear, because I wasn't worried so much for my health--I was fairly sure, correctly or not, that I'd make it through fine--but that I'd catch something or break something that would make me go into bankruptcy. Considering the craptastic insurance we had while freelancing in the States--it covered, um, nothing--that was a distinct possibility. So watching the film--which, yes, as critics will note does not present opposing viewpoints and does hype up the Cuban medical system somewhat uncritically but, hey, it's pretty convincing--I must say that I had the "foreigner" reaction to the U.S. medical system: How the hell can the States do such a bad job providing access to health care--instead of being a luxury of sorts, shouldn't it be something that everyone should have without stress?
During out last visit to the U.S., Henry developed a lump on his arm, so we went to the hospital. After misdiagnosing the problem, the hospital had us wait for 4 hours, spent 5 minutes lancing the supposed abscess (it was a harmless reaction to a BCG shot), and tried to charge us $1,500 for our medical pleasure. Luckily, we'd bought Argentine travel insurance for him before we left. After that experience--and the film--I know we'll be doing the same as well for our next trip back.
posted by Ian @ 10:32 AM
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11 Comments:
Why did you live in fear of bankruptcy in the US? Didn't you have health insurance? When I lived there my employer gave me Blue Cross/Shield and it covered virtually everything - just a small deductible. I was able to use the best hospitals in the world, see any doctor. I relation to what I am earning in Argentina I am paying a LOT for local health insurance. In the US I paid nothing as my employer picked it up but even if I had had to pay it wouldn't have been a greater percentage of my salary than I am paying here. I don't think health insurance in the US should be free but I agree that it should be accessible. Accessible, however, is not free. People should pay something. I was recently sick and hospitalized here - covered by my expensive Argentine health insurance ($200 dollars a month). A friend in Britain told me that the National Health (UK) would not have given me such prompt, attentive service and would likely NOT have authorized an MRI or other expensive tests. I don't think this is the kind of system Americans want. Argentina has universal care and it stinks. That's why there is a system of obra sociales, work sponsored private health care plans. Michael Moore is a hypocrite. Just take a look at him - he is a pig. Maybe he should go on a diet, exercise and get into decent shape. He is the classic oafish, overeating, indulged American who winds up relying on medical soltions to problems that could have been avoided, through proper nutrition and exercise, in the first place. And where do the profits from this film go? I imagine in Mr. Moore's capitalist pockets.
Granted, the tuberculosis vaccine BCG is not given to babies in the US, but it's surely in med school textbooks & we TOLD the doctors very explicitly that Henry had a BCG shot... (Here's a map with BCG coverage around the world: http://www.who.int/immunization_monitoring/diseases/BCG_coverage_map.JPG)
When we returned to Argentina, our pediatrician shook his head & called it "BCGitis" -- aka, just a common, harmless reaction to the shot. (Yeah, he'll probably have one of those round scars on his upper arm as an adult.)
Re: Anon's comment
If you work for yourself, health insurance is very expensive in the US. Ian may correct me, but I think we spent US$400 per month right before moving to Argentina for a terrible policy that had a very large deductible, no dental, lots of red tape... We have been much happier with the healthcare here. As for the fear of bankruptcy, that comes from having no insurance at all in the US -- something Ian & I both dabbled in in our 20s when $400 / month wasn't a comfortable option.
I can't wait to see the film, and yes health insurance is rediculous in the states. Right before I moved to Argentina I had the basic coverage I bought it was $150 a month and basically covered me for nothing... but nowadays walmart has all of there generic drugs for I think $10.00
Cintra, in 2002 it was $800 per month for a couple to get a decent medical plan in Chicago. In Buenos Aires you can get exactly the same for $100 nowadays.
In Argentina employers are obliged to fully cover their employees with obra social. In the US no. Only high level workers are sometimes offered medical insurance as part of their "package" deal.
A full root canal and crown treatment in Chicago: $5,500 dollars. Same treatment in Buenos Aires: $500 pesos.
I completely understand the "fear" since the median salary for a qualified worker in the US is around $60,000 per year.
I hope your baby is feeling better now. (And, yep, the round scar comes along with the DNI... sorry for him)
I do not believe that health insurance for an individual is $800 dollars a month in the US. Prior to the devaluation I was paying close to $500 dollars (not pesos!) for my Argentine health insurance. The same insurance is now $600 pesos. In dollars that is only $200 however I am not earning dollars in Argentina. Maybe it seems cheap to some of the expats out there who have come here with lots of dollars to spend but not to those of us who live on this economy. I doubt very much that I would be paying more than $600 dollars for the same kind of policy in the US but I would certainly be earning more and also contributing to the social security system (let's not get into the shameful pension system here). As for emplyers here being compelled to contribute to health insurance, that is right. It's also a fact that around 40% of the population work illegally and have no such health plan. In the US all teachers in public schools have excellent health insurance, union members have health insurance, government employees have health insurance. These are not considered high level people in the US. Managers in companies certainly have health insurance along with quite a few others. YEs. there are some wh are not covered. There are problems that need to be addressed however I think that a lot of those uninsured Americans could afford to sacrifice a little to pay for health insurance that covered them for serious problems. I know people who will pay a couple of hundred dollars for tickets to a hockey game but they won't pay for health insurance!
I've got OSDE, it costs me an arm and a leg, but I love it. And I come from a country (the UK) where all citizens have theoretical free access to healthcare at the point of use, a system that is both idealistic and broken.
The trick for getting the most out of health insurance is to develop a number of chronic but non-life threatening conditions (you can just invent them if you like) that require regular attention. If you can't think of any good conditions, OSDE give you a thick glossy brochure with lots of suggestions. Minor skin conditions are worth cultivating -- most of them are incurable so you'll end up popping in to the hospital for the rest of your life, and dermatologists are the cheeriest of medics because they never have to fiddle around inside people.
It's all about getting value for money. Here's what I´ve got lined up this month:
i) Ear syringing. Nothing in my ears but they don't care because I've stumped up my money. Lovely sensation, like a cool ocean wave blowing through your brain.
ii) ECG. Nothing wrong with my heart but I love getting jelly rubbed on my chest.
iii) Psychiatrist, 10 pesos a session. That's 3 dollars for an hour-long chat with a guy who likes my problems.
iv) Family doctor. This is great because she always has loads of students shadowing her. If you look like me, this is the only time your body commands total attention in the room.
Ian & Cintra,
Liam had the same reaction to the BCG shot as Henry; and we were jerked-around and ripped-off at the ER just as you were.
See you guys at the end of October!
-Bill
mattyc, you made me laugh. Thanks.
This coming from a mother of 2 teenagers and a 21 yr-old who's going to university & still covered by our insurance.
My husband works for a small (mom & pop type) consulting architectural and engineering firm (Florida)who offers excellent health insurance. He also earns a pretty good salary. When my husband started 11 yrs ago, he negotiated with the owner that health coverage be part of his compensation package, so we've lucked out. At that time, the coverage was lousy (my youngest son had to have a simple hernea operation - 1996 - and we were responsible for $1,000 for the surgeon, over $5,000 for the hospital, and I can't remember the anesthesiologist. We were pretty scared with all we had to pay). So now it's great, but ...
As of last renewal (4/2007), those who have family coverage are ducked $236.17 each paycheck (2/mo), AND the deductible is $2,500., after which doctors, hospitals and Rxs are at no additional cost. But please, do the math, the cost is over $900 per month! FRIGGIN' UNBELIEVABLE!!
This is not the "kind and gentle" or "compassionate" nation it used to be. And every year the cost of anything dealing with healthcare goes up some more.
And you know what? Stop talking about the poor, the children, and the old people. They get help from the government, thank God. My aunt and uncle down the road are in their 90's, bless their souls. They pay for their medicare (deducted from their Soc. Sec. check) and $100/mo to their health insurance, and all else is pretty much covered; they pay like $5-10 for each Rx. -- It's the working middle class who can't afford healthcare, while the research and pharmaceutical companies get richer and richer. Please, tell me why it is that any medication costs 2-3 times, or more, cheaper outside the US? It's the same medicine, for goodness' sake!
And it's not unusual that if you pay your own insurance and have an illness requiring expensive treatment, the insurance drops you (you know, like your car insurance, if you have an accident they first hike your premium and later drop you). Also, I've known people with cancer who were able to get good care because both spouses worked and had separate insurances - there's a cap on what any single insurance pays.
So something has to give. I mean, the system is broke and needs fixin.
Now for Michael Moore. Oh, p-l-e-a-s-e. The man is so far to the left he's no longer pinko. He does not mention that only the PRIVILEGED CLASS in control of the government have access to quality healthcare. The rest, who the government has left poor and destitute, barely have access to a doctor. True, the MD is free, but medicine, when available, is not.
And in other socialist countries, such as Norway (I have a brother in law living there), have good healthcare but it's not free, they pay absorbitant taxes. Well, perhaps that's the way we should go. Norwegians certainly don't pay the equivalent of over $900/month in taxes that go strictly to cover their healthcare.
Sorry about carrying on so much, but this is a very sore subject with this very-conservative woman who is fed up with the way both conservative and liberal politicians are self-serving hypocrits who feed the people lies and squeeze every cent they can out of the middle class. I am so done with the turn this country has taken in the past 15 years!
And it hurts that I remember it being truly the best country in the world.
By God's guiding hand, my husband went to BA on a business trip (that literally materialized out of nowhere) last month. Like so many of you, he fell in love with it. I mean, the man is melancholic for Argentina. We are doing research and looking at different options, and with any luck, we'll be joining you lovely people in the next few years.
Nothing is perfect. But before you sing Michael Moore's praises or blindly defend this system, look at both sides, then believe 1/2 of each side, and you'll end up with pretty much what the truth is.
Good luck to you all.
Mom-of-three
cintra, after reading your piece, I was all set to make some serious comments (like, why would you go to a hospital "emergency" room for a non-life-threatening situation and NOT expect to wait interminable hours to see an M.D. - that's what "Docs in a Box" are for in the U.S.). BUT, after reading mattyc's comment, I'm cracking up too much to offer any deep opinions on this most controversial subject. Mayyc, you made my day!
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You can´t sure compare health care quality in Argentina with the one in the USA. Everything is proportional. Argentina is cheaper, but the quality is cheaper as well.
It´s hard for me to believe that you paid 5,500 for a full root canal and a crown in Chicago when here in Washington, DC it costs 3,800, which my insurance (CIGNA PPO) covered 80% (and I make 62,000 a year!). By the way, the quality of dental care is TERRIBLE there: not only they don´t have the technology that we have here, the materials they use for fillings and crowns are much lower standards too. Many Argentinians I know that went there for dental treatment because it was "cheaper" had to have their teeth refixed here in the States afterwards due to the bad quality of fillings and crowns over there.
Cintra:
Only the rich can afford OSDE 310 in Argentina. Did you know that? And most people avoid going to public hospitals if they can. They pay a prepaga even if that means eating meat just once a a month. Imagine why...
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