Michael Moore Doesn’t Get It—Or Does He?

In a recent issue of Insurance News & Views, IA “L-H Leads” writer Dave Evans penned the article “Michael Moore Doesn’t Get It.” In the article, Evans counters some of Moore’s claims in the film “SiCKO,” asserting that while the U.S. healthcare system is not perfect, it does have many successes. The article generated strong reader reactions, including the following:

Someone must focus on the negatives in order to effect change. The health care system in this country is a mess. You may be upset because your livelihood somewhat depends on selling health insurance. I know all health insurance companies are not bad, but as a whole the system must be overhauled. I have been in this business for over 25 years and it has been very good to me. However, I have never lost sight of what is really important—people. Not just the almighty dollar.

—Kimberly A. Bates, Aronov Insurance, Inc., Alabama Insurance Alliance, Inc., Montgomery, Ala.

I haven’t seen “SiCKO.” I believe, in my 10 years of being in the business, there are at least three major waves of reform needed. One is the obvious litigation reform, caps on non-monetary damage handouts and other legal-related costs driving up all our health insurance premiums. Secondly, there needs to be some sort of regulation on hospitals and their fiscal management. They consistently get away with insurance fraud, meaning they charge you less if you don’t have insurance, then turn around and try to reason it away by stating that they do that only because insurance companies will bargain them down. Insurance fraud, by definition, is unethical and illegal, period! If the government wants to regulate, then regulate the fiscal management of hospitals with audits. Insurance companies are highly regulated, so bring some level of fiscal responsibility to hospitals. Third, we need a more-standardized system for healthcare coverages for simplicity sake so that the average person doesn’t have to be a healthcare professional just to understand the different coverages afforded or not afforded. HSAs I have seen are working well and the days of “feel good” low-deductible plans may be over, but that doesn’t mean we still don’t have among the best healthcare systems in the world today.

—Toby W. Pepper, Myers-Pepper Insurance Agency, LLC, Muncy, Pa.

I have not seen the movie, but can tell you that governments take over a society need when the marketplace doesn’t meet that need. Americans will not let people die on the street because of a lack of money, although some do slip through the cracks. The taxpayer is paying a large cost of the healthcare bill for the uninsured and every year that burden increases.

I don’t want a national healthcare system run by the government, and anyone who does is nuts. I want the marketplace to fix the problem. Unfortunately, the marketplace has done a lousy job of offering affordable major medical coverage. It is very good at offering very expensive mini-medical coverage with a major medical component. There is an entire generation of Americans who think it costs $20 to go to a doctor and $100 to have a baby. Think of the costs involved in adjusting just one office visit claim and multiply that by the number of office visits every day in America. What does that do to your premiums? If car insurance worked like health insurance, then we’d be turning in claims for oil changes to our auto insurance company. Ridiculous. I don’t claim to have the answer, but the health insurance industry has done a lousy job of offering less-expensive alternatives to American business and the first one that does will capture a large share of the marketplace.

—Hill Adams, Pathfinder LL&D Insurance Group, Houston, Texas

I appreciate your article. I would be interested, though, in reviewing some statistics regarding the “myriad of regulations and mandates that result in plans that are very expensive” and also a breakdown of what percentage of each medical dollar goes toward what expense within the medical field. Locally, our hospitals have never-ending remodeling jobs and seem to have money to spare. If the exorbitant costs of healthcare truly are caused by regulations and mandates, then we’re back to the old standby: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers!”

—Karen S. Hammock, Dillingham Insurance, Enid, Okla.

I saw the movie, too, and am an agent/consultant with lots of gray hair, and I came away with a totally different conclusion. Unless the cost of health care in the United States becomes affordable and everyone has easy access to quality care and cutting-edge drugs, the only result I can see is nationalized health care. I think the kids in the audience watching “SiCKO” came away with a message that will grow into expectations for the next generation. (Yes, they applauded in my movie, too.) Holding on to the old system will not be an option then.

—Walter Bounds, Bounds Insurance Agency, Center, Texas