Yesterday night saw a documentary SICKO by well known filmmaker Michael Moore. The documentary is about how health insurance companies cheating people of their money in USA by denying help when they need it most. And how far they can go to deny their customer claims by creating fictitious reasons. It reminded me of an incident couple of months back where one of my friend’s friend got admitted to hospital and we literally had to fight to get money from the insurance company. She had her insurance policy with Star Healthcare and her bills ran up to 30,000 Rs. She asked the hospital to claim money from the Star Healthcare as it had collaborated with the company. But when the claim came back the company had agreed to pay only 6000 bucks giving reasons that some of the test and ailments doesn’t fall under the policy even though they were routine ones. We found it preposterous and argued with the company. The company increased the amount from 5000 to 11000 Rs. And when we threatened that we will call media and will make a breaking news the company agreed to pay 21000 Rs as it already knew we are from film industry. Though we wanted to get full amount, we relented after doctor in the hospital suggested that it happens with every claimant and if we go on protesting they will just delay the payment. Giving patient’s condition, we didn’t want to give her more stress. The movie is filled such kind of incidents ranging from small sickness to life threatening diseases like cancer. Some patients have died due to denial of their policy money. It also shows how the medicine prices are spiraling up in USA because of these insurance companies. Since more than 90% citizens of USA have these policies, it is affecting them badly and more and more people are being cheated daily. India hasn’t yet embraced this health insurance thing wholly but I wonder what would happen if more and more people take health care policies. The movie also shows solution in the end by giving examples of countries like France, England, Canada and backward country like Cuba where universal healthcare system is in place and nobody pays for their health care, it will be cut in their taxes. Yes, your salary will be less but you don’t have to worry when you fall sick. Why can’t our government enact such a policy? Why cant people demand such a service from government? What are they waiting for? The questions are yet to be answered. PS: Michel Moore: Why France is so different from USA in terms of taking care of their people? Frenchwoman: Because in France Government fears people. If they make any bad decision, people come out on the street to protest and make sure they get what they want but in USA, people are scared of government, they just don’t protest enough. I think that is true with my country too and that sums up it all……
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 06:27:19 +0000
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