Blog # 3

For BLOG #3, discuss the ethical issues presented in the PBS Frontline Documentary, "Sick Around America." You can access the documentary at:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundamerica/ 

Before I made the decision to have my gallbladder removed on February 19, 2013, I had to consider financial factors. I know the operation was necessary and although I do have health insurance through my employer, I knew there was going to be some out of pocket expense. Thankfully, my out of pocket expense was affordable which in turn makes me extremely grateful for the awesome health insurance my employer offers me. However, I know this is not the case for everyone and If I was uninsured, I probably would not have been able to afford the operation which was medically needed to relieve my awful gallbladder attacks. My aunt who also suffers from gallbladder disease, it unable to get the operation done because she is uninsured. The expense for such an operation is quite expensive and it is really unfortunate to have to see people in this country suffer medically because they are unable to afford health insurance/care. 

After watching "Sick Around America", my thoughts about our broken health care system was absolutely intensified. People in our country are dying because they are unable to afford health care services. These big time health insurance companies are violating many ethical lines that need to be stopped. These companies should not deny people health care coverage because they have pre-existing conditions. They should not constantly be monitoring people's health insurance claims/records and then telling them that their services will not be covered and that they are officially dropped from the policy. The insured and uninsured individual should not be subjected to such things, we should not have to suffer medically because health care costs are through the roof. 

These companies cross the line everyday and they even provide bonuses to their employers that save them the most money by finding a reason to drop the individuals they cover. In essence, ethically the lines are being crossed as our health care coverages are being denied due to pre-existing conditions, our security and privacy of health information is being violated, and intentional "mistakes" are causing people their lives. I think everyone should stop fighting the health care reform our country is currently trying to implement as we evidently need the change before it is too late.