Panorama - Can Obama fix the US Healthcare System

Did anyone catch this show the other night?  I know it was filmed with nearly the same bias that Sicko was, but it still makes me sick that the "greatest healthcare system in the world" can not find the means to care for a mother of five with cancer who needs a liver x-plant.

What really got to me was this Foster Freise character.  His firm belief that it is the responsibility of the wealthy to give to healthcare charities for the poor.  He himself has donated millions to such charities and set up clinics.  I think that's fantastic, but what really gets to me is that he truly believes that those donations will do the job, when the doctors are commanding so much salary.  It is a noble idea, but not all of America's millionaires are donating on the level he is.  It's for that reason that I think the US needs a system much like the French, whereby gov't intervention of healthcare is means tested: if you can afford health insurance, then you can have it.  If you can't the government will do means-tested top ups to ensure all are receiving the same fair treatment.

Also, that line he slipped in about "but in the UK, there are long waiting lists and healthcare is rationed".  Speaking as someone who works for the NHS, I can't really say it's rationed, considering the activity my Trust does each year (175,000 inpatients and 400,000 outpatients).  And what he doesn't realise is that there are short wait times in the states because 1/6 of the population can't even get their foot in the door to the hospitals!

Quantity does not always mean quality. I am sad (and horrified) to say I have definitely learned that NHS lesson. 

Hopefully he can, but looking at his proposals they fall far short of what's required but it's a step in the right direction.

Everyone should be able to get health care no one in this day and age should be turned away, it will cost more for the state to care for those 5 children if the mother passes away than giving her the treatment she needs to see her children grow up, its sad.

There is no equality in the US and it needs to be looked at, when you have someone who is a charity for the poorest 3rd world countries and  now the biggest amount of work they do is in the US isn't it shameful.  I agree if you can afford health care insurance thats fine but they also need to cover those with pre existing conditions and they should have to pay out if you need the treatment, this gets me that the US people are paying and then being declined for treatment by these so called insurance companies shameful.

Indy and Sonya