Doug, I'm real glad you have wraparound coverage, but most people don't. We had 1 emergency room visit, 1 week of hospitalization and some doctor visits this year. Out-of-pocket costs for deductibles and 'co-pays' so far have been $6,800.00 although we have insurance. This is serious money to us.

Besides that aspect, there are other deep problems in our system. If a doctor prescribes a vitamin or nutrient(for example glucosamine for an arthritic joint) it's not reimbursable because it's not a patentable drug concocted by a pharmaceutical company. If a doctor wants to use any progressive therapy besides drugs and cutting you open, chances are his patients are on their own to pay for it although they have 'insurance'.

Our care is 'rationed'. As little as possible is done until there is a big crisis, and then no cost is spared. Preventive care is a joke, our 'plan' pays for one 'free' cholesterol test per five years.

There are shortages of every kind of medical specialist. Yet years ago when we were students, we were actively discouraged from going into medicine, seats were severely restricted in all medical schools, to make sure there was a small supply of doctors so they could all be paid well. Now we have a giant aging population and not enough doctors. Would-be nurses are turned away from schools because there are not enough nurses trained as instructors.   

We all thought the AMA knew best for a long time. We were all wrong, and I'm really glad Sicko is getting people to talk about it.   The one simple truth the movie brought out--care should be about making people well, not about screwing them out of money. Radical concept-- how used to this money-grubbing system we have become.