Michael Moore on Health Care Reform

"All persons resident in Ireland are entitled to receive health care through the public health care system, which is managed by the Health Service Executive and funded by general taxation. A person may be required to pay a subsidised fee for certain health care received; this depends on income, age, illness or disability. All child health and maternity services are provided free of charge as is emergency care.

Everyone living in the country, and visitors to Ireland who hold a European Health Insurance Card, are entitled to free maintenance and treatment in public beds in Health Service Executive and voluntary hospitals. Outpatient services are also provided for free. However some people, mostly high-income earners, may have to pay subsidised hospital charges."

Now I will say that I think the US has some of the more advanced medical expertise in the world - particularly when it comes to unusual illnesses etc. But what use is this if you can't pay for it?

I have been lucky - I've lived in Ontario where, apart from dental work, health care is 100% free (well, no, income taxes pay for it) - three other provinces impose a fixed monthly premium but it's pretty low. And I've lived in the UK where even much dental work is covered by the NHS.

Germany has excellent health care, but unless you are on some kind of unemployment benefit etc, you pay a very high monthly fee - I've heard of up to 400 euros per month per person. If you are employed, this is paid for by your employer, but if you are a low-wage self-employed person, it's not a good situation. Well, I might have got it wrong, but this was my understanding when I lived there ( I was covered under UK health insurance). I was even told that if you could not pay for your medical costs -- your family would be tracked down to pay for it. 

Anyway, I was very touched by Michael Moore's passion.