Sicko ( ) and US Health Care

[Guest guest]

Hi,

yesterday, I had a chance to see 's film Sicko - if what

he says about the American system is true, you American's are having

a lot of trouble with your health care system, in a way unimaginable

to Europeans for example.

Not only is it a scandal that 50 million people cannot afford basic

health care (I was aware of this before), yet I was not aware to what

extent even those with full health insurance are often denied

important treatment by the health insurance companies!

I live in Germany and over here, there are two systems:

1: State organised health insurance. Everyone has to be in this,

unless you have opted for private health insurance. You pay about

13.4% of your taxable income (max. about 510 Euros/Month) for full

insurance. The unemployed have health insurance paid for them. Nobody

is denied treatment, nobody is excluded from cover. You can go to any

doctor of your choice. You continue to receive your pay while you are

ill, etc. Medicines are charged at a flat rate, yet max. 2% of your

income per annum.

2: Private health insurance: At least the same as the state system,

yet additionally reduced waiting time at the doctors, smaller rooms

in hospitals and treatment by top doctors, payment for alternative

therapies, etc.

I have never experienced waiting for treatment more than a couple of

hours for routine checkups. The quality of treatment is very high and

I have never experienced anyone being out of pocket simply because

they were ill.

I am personally using system 1 and have always received the full

treatment I needed.

In the USA, it appears that many fully insured people still lose

their homes just to pay for treatment denied by their health

insurance companies.

No wonder Rife and other alternative therapies are so popular in the

USA.

What do the Americans on this Group think about what is said in the

film Sicko and your own health system?

Regards

(Moderator)