Michael Moore is the man insurers love to hate. His controversial documentary, “Sicko,” exposed huge holes in the health care system—not only for those 50 million or so (and climbing) who lack any coverage, but even among those lucky enough to have a policy supposedly protecting them.
The film spurred a renewed national dialogue about the need for perhaps radical reform, after relative silence and inaction on this glaring national crisis since First Lady Hillary Clinton’s attempt to overhaul the entrenched system crashed and burned.
Now Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is again talking up the need for health care reform—although pushing for more modest changes, perhaps, than her original grandiose scheme—as the centerpiece of her campaign for the White House.
Indeed, all of the Democratic candidates are pitching health insurance reform, making it fairly certain that should a Democrat take the White House next year, you can bet substantial changes will be one of the first orders of business for Congress in 2009.
“Sicko” did about $25 million in domestic ticket sales—not even close to the record $119 million ($225 million worldwide) generated by Mr. Moore’s anti-war documentary, “Fahrenheit 9/11,” but more than enough to start a political and media firestorm that has yet to die down.
Why is this of any interest for a property-casualty audience—particularly one like NU’s, which is focused on commercial coverage?
For one, a growing number of independent agencies are pitching employee benefit plans along with property, liability and workers’ compensation coverage. In fact, in this softening commercial market, health insurance has become a buyer’s biggest pain point, making the agent invaluable in putting together an affordable benefits program.
In addition, many risk management readers also either personally handle benefit purchases, or supervise those who do.
Last—but certainly not least—should Congress alter the health insurance landscape, it is likely to have a major impact on the medical component of both workers’ comp and auto insurance.
Imagine, if you would, where those two lines might be without the burden of medical care or drug expenses to worry about. (We’ll explore the issue in NU next year for sure as the presidential race heats up.)
“Sicko” inspired me to post a series of five provocative blogs over the week of July 9-13, which drew some of the most intense and thoughtful responses I’ve ever received from readers at www.property-casualty.com.
• “The Messenger Obscures The Message” addressed the critically important points Mr. Moore raised about the shell game into which our health insurance system has degenerated. The problem is that he himself is such a lightening rod for criticism because of his biased approach and lack of respect for inconvenient facts that the argument becomes more about him than the important subjects he tackles.
• “Doctors Should Not Be Allowed To Opt Out” criticizes the growing number of medical care providers who are refusing to accept health insurance of any kind because of the restrictions on their income and decision-making freedom. If enough doctors desert the system, that alone could force substantial reforms.
• “Medical Tourism Is No Vacation” addressed the astonishingly desperate trend of folks choosing to leave the country to get cheaper (but not necessarily better) medical care. Is this what we’ve come to in the United States?
• “More On Moore” focused on the gadfly’s counterpoints against his army of critics. While it’s clear Mr. Moore often uses a sledgehammer to make even his smallest points, what other tool might one employ to shatter the concrete-like status quo in which we’re trapped?
• “Hope You Never Have To Go Bare” featured speculation about what the tipping point might be to secure reform—70 million uninsured? 100 million?
If you would like to weigh in, it’s not too late. I’ll post this story on my blog this month. Fire away!
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