Michael Moore's Latest Target: Your HMO

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'll give you quality... but I think most would agree that doesn't outweigh the negatives.

It sounds like you're comparing our healthcare system to those of European nations where healthcare is nationalized.

I'd take the American system any day of the week. There are more positives than just quality...

- Choice. Overseas, you are often designated to a certain facility or healthcare provider. If you don't like them, tough, you're stuck. Here, even if you have a crappy HMO, you still get to choose from a network of providers. If you have a PPO, you can see anyone.

- Fire and rescue services (including the 911 system) here are 1000% better than in Europe.

- Wait times at hospital ERs are way shorter here.

- There is a much greater specialization of surgical services here. In Europe, if you need to have a tumor removed from your spine, you often end up having a general surgeon do it. In the US, you have a spine specialist do it. Explains why survival rates are so much higher here for like procedures.

All this is not to say that we don't have major problems because we do. No matter what, it's total bullshit that someone without insurance pays 10 times what someone with insurance is charged. But I'd take quality over cost any day of the week; especially if it's my wife, daughter, mother or other family member getting taken care of.