Sick Around The World Summary

So many thoughts ran through my head while watching the movie “Sick Around The World”. I felt saddened and at the same time hopeful that someday health system in the U.S. can get better. This issue is more complicated that what it may seem. From having low-paying jobs to high costs of living and poor government system, many Americans who are barely making enough to survive are drowning. Being born and raised in the Philippines, I can honestly say that there’s so much flaws and injustice in the American justice system especially in their health policies and regulations. It seems that everyone is in it for his or her own benefit. Just like what T.R. Reid mentioned in the movie, people here in America compete to make profit. Big pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and other giant companies are only for profit. When you really think about it, it is almost inhumane. I like Japan’s health system, even though everyone is forced to purchase their own health insurance, hospitals and doctors have standard fixed prices on everything, which prevent them from increasing the prices to make more profit. This technique can keep the medical insurance cheap and affordable for everyone. Even though the government structured social policies like Medicaid and Medicare, so everyone’s needs are met, some
of these social policies and programs have evolved over the years and now seem to be focus on a different concern or they became less helpful due to the changes that has been happening in the economy.
I personally know someone who retired and decided to live in Belize.
He was half Canadian and half American. When Obamacare was put in effect, his old health insurance company kicked him out and when he got his new insurance, they refused to cover his main medication for cancer. He did not have any choice but to go back to Canada. Though I may not have enough knowledge about Obamacare, many people I know have complained about it. There are many people who would rather opt out on medical insurance due to that fact that they are making way too little. They were able to do that before, but now, not only they can’t afford it, they are also getting fined for not being able to afford
it.
This movie reminded me of Demark, known to be the happiest place on earth. Even though the taxes are quiet a bit high, no one pays for medical bills nor education. They are also big on preventative care, which allow people to be active and live a stress-free life by enjoying yoga classes, biking, and other activities. Makes me wonder if America can be the same way if the same health system is applied here.
Though many people think that U.S. has the finest healthcare system in the world, I have to completely disagree. Since our health system is mostly dominated by private sector businesses, by law they must post profit growth each quarter, which is why they are all in a race to make the highest profit.