American SiCKOs Larry and Donna Smith are fuming over a recent report about physicians squeezing in more patients to compensate for their falling salaries.
Wait, now let me get this straight. The doctors are unhappy because their salaries didn’t rise enough. And who is going to pay for their discomfort and suffering? Patients. Once again, American patients will pay more for less. And we will do so until we break the cycle by demanding universal, single-payer care for every American.
Here's what they're doing about it:
Larry is switching all of his cardiology business (and the insurance payments) to a cardiologist who supports single-payer, universal health care. He thinks other patients should do the same. Let's walk the walk together.
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CLiCK here to read more]
A protester in Port Huron, MI
On August 25, a group of activists from Port Huron, MI held a rally outside the Krafft 8 Theater to protest that 'SiCKO' isn't playing anywhere in their area. They are sick of our broken health care system and want their community to realize the problem and join the fight.
"The people in this community need an opportunity to view this film," said Sue Alderman, a member of
Blue November, the group organizing the rally. "As for issues of great importance and relevance to all Americans, our health care crisis is right up there with the occupation of Iraq."
"We wanted to start a conversation that might lead to our neighbors finding common ground," she continued.
So far, local theater managers said they are unable to get the film in the area. Blue November will continue to put on the pressure.
Is 'SiCKO' playing in your area? Click
here to find out. If not, you should also let theater managers know you're 'SiCKO' waiting.
State Rep. Robert Megna (D-New Haven)
[...]
"We need to get people who have seen this movie to mob the state legislature and let them know we want to get rid of the insurance companies and get a single-payer system," said one audience member.
Megna answered that such initiatives were usually blocked by lobbyists, but that efforts to promote a single-payer system could convince lawmakers that there is indeed popular support for the idea.
[...]
[CLiCK here to read more]
18 Connecticut legislators have seen 'SiCKO' so far...
California State
Senator Shiela Kuehl blogs about the Great LA Health Care Rally and gives props to 'SiCKO' for changing health care politics
forever:
[...]
Apparently when they said the event was designed to give Californians the chance to set the health care agenda, what they actually meant was that the event would be an opportunity for the people to jump in line with the Governor’s healthcare agenda. As is often the case, the people had a different idea—they did, in fact, jump; they jumped out of their seats demanding that single payer and SB 840 be included in the discussion, forcing the organizers to tack the issue on at the last minute at the end of the day.
The fact that participants were forced, on their own accord, to demand the inclusion of single payer at the CaliforniaSpeaks events clearly indicates that the conventional political message, mostly propagated by the health insurance companies, has yet to understand that two decades worth of traumatized patients and families, along with an even higher consciousness of our failings set out in Michael Moore’s new film, “SiCKO”, has changed health reform politics forever.
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CLiCK here to read more
[...]
Adrian Campbell, a 25-year-old Waterford Township resident, said her new boss at the Northville Meijer store did not approve of her comments in the movie, which called for health-care reform in the United States.
"He called me anti-American," she said. "He was constantly calling me that."
"I said 'No, I'm not anti-American, I just think there should be a few changes in this country.' And then he let me go."
[...]
[CLiCK here to read more]
Mark Murray, President of Meijer
Let Meijer know that firing Adrian to protect their reputation has backfired:CLiCK here to contact MeijerCall toll-free within IL, IN, KY, MI, & OH:
1-800-543-3704
Outside region call:
616-453-6711
Homeland Security caught unawares as American SiCKOS
Donna and Larry Smith approach the White House
"How awesome is this? From one Washington to the other. People are organizing for change and for action." -- Donna Smith, American SiCKO
[...]
Julie Pierce says her husband's doctor told the family that Tracy Jr. has a 50 percent chance of having the cancer gene. They won't know unless Tracy Jr. undergoes testing, which would need to be done at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland.
Julie Pierce says she asked her insurance company, Coventry Health Care, if the $6,000 test would be covered. She was told no. "So then, you think, if I get the testing and it comes back that he has the gene, I already know that my insurance isn't going to pay for it," Julie Pierce tells the Pitch. "And the test is too expensive for me to pay out of pocket."
Tracy Pierce Jr. says he's not sure what will happen to him if he has the gene. "It bothers me because I know that if I have the gene, I know that I'm not going to get the care. Because I know that they denied my dad his care," Tracy Jr. says. "They didn't pay for my dad's [care]. They didn't pay for any of his treatments. So now when I get it, I don't think that I've got a chance."
[...]
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CLiCK here to read more]
Tell Coventry Health Care You Don't Want to See a Sequel!
Coventry Health Care, Inc.
6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 900
Bethesda, MD 20817
(301) 581-0600
(800) 969-3343
Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan and his
brother Mark joyfully surf the internet together.
[...]
A day after unveiling his health-care advisers (including Mark McClellan) and then blasting Clinton, Edwards, Obama, and even Michael Moore for their calls for universal coverage, Giuliani gives a speech on his health-care principles this morning from Rochester, NH. And expect more volleys at Moore and these Democrats.
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[CLiCK here to read more]
