Search - FRONTLINE: Sick Around America on DVD

Sick Around America another must see episode from Frontline

GreatMovieCriticForever | 09/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A look at the crappy Health Care system in America that about sums it up. This is an in depth investigation of the unproductive health care system in America. Very few will say that the Health Care system is great in this country, by most opinions the Health Care system in U.S. is a giant failure. Of course most of the problems in the health care industry are obvious, but Frontline does a nice job of providing all the facts especially for those still in denial that the health care system sucks.

First of the problem is that Health Care system is ruled by greed and profit. In a capitalistic system like the US that plays right into its hands. Premiums are high, the cost is high, even the coverage itself may or may not even cover you. It's such a bad system it's not funny.

It definitely wasn't going to be fixed under the corrupt George W. Bush administration which failed to make any headway with keeping health care affordable.

Frontline presents these problems in more detail presents several cases with Americans where the Health Care system either failed, misled, or completely ignored their cries for help. The show presents the rather corrupt process of rescinding coverage.

How crappy is the health care system in America?

Even the Ceo of Kaiser is interviewed who admits how inadequate the health care system is. Imagine that.

As mentioned several stories are presented. Probably the most persuasive cases are the Jennifer Thompson story and Nikki White story.

Thompson was initially awarded medical coverage even though she might have cancer. Then after undergoing surgery to Thompson's surprise, the medical insurance company said they weren't going to pay for her coverage. Thompson was left with almost a half million dollars in bills. Way to go Health Care!!!

The Nikki White story is even more disgusting. A girl diagnosed with Lupus and no medical company will give her coverage.

It seems that the practice of a lot of these insurance companies is to award you coverage but only while you are healthy to begin with which contradicts the whole effort of getting coverage to begin with which is to get help for sick.

There are idiots who will claim these are isolated cases but the millions of Americans who either can't pay for coverage or are denied medical coverage are living proof that the Health Care system in America sucks and it needs a major makeover."

Reid Disagreed With Final Edit

Jerry A. Call | Maine | 02/05/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Mr. Reid disagreed with the final edit of this program and withdrew his support of it. The reason being it totally distorted the truth about what is needed to correct America's sick healthcare system.

For those familiar with Mr. Reid's ground breaking program (video), "Sick Around The World", they know that the producers of this new video totally distorted the conclusion of Mr. Reid's findings from his investigation. Karen Ignagni, Pres. of the insurance company lobby group, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP),and primary force behind the "Harry and Louise" ads that killed Hillary Clinton's healthcare reform in 1992, was given the spotlight in this video; at the expense of Mr. Reid's narrative of Single Payer Healthcare being the most viable solution to America's healthcare crisis.

It is unfortunate that Frontline allowed the insurance lobby to distort and betray Mr. Reid's work. PBS should be ashamed."