The priorities are wrong in this country. We absolutely must begin to fix this in November's election.

I'm seriously thinking of moving out if the US. I have some friends who already have. It's become a pathetic dangerous place to live. Sad !

I hear you and share your outrage. That poor man. Hugs.

The so called American ‘health care system’ is an appalling joke. The ‘comedians’ are the doctors and hospitals, the insurance companies, the drug companies, and the equipment/materiel suppliers. The stooges are the American people, many if not most of whom are appalled by even the mention of universal health care. A health care denial system is a more accurate description.

The supporters and defenders of this state of affairs quite happily spend thousands of dollars a year, sometimes a month, on restricted health insurance, and are complacent about those who can’t get or afford this grossly inflated insurance. The fact that a comprehensive universal system would save them huge amounts of money AND provide better care is ignored and deplored on the spurious grounds of ‘freedom’. The fact that such systems work admirably in EVERY other developed nation, and some undeveloped ones, is overlooked and subjected to constant criticism based on spinning reports of one-off negative incidents, ignorance, and deliberately promoted falsehoods and misinformation. The fact that the system they seek to sustain is one entire negative incident is overlooked.

The current degradation of the performance of the British NHS and its privatisation by stealth is the result of deliberate (Conservative government) policy, and is not a result of some basic flaw in universal provision systems - the changes and the negative consequences of them are deiberate and are ideologically driven.

Universal systems can be state or privately operated, funded, and provided. A few, like our NHS are completely public, state provisions. France and Switzerland (the world’s capitalist and individual freedom all comers champion) operate theirs on a combination of private insurance, public funding, complete universality, and tight state regulation of costs, standards, and suppliers. These two are considered the best run and most efficient, and overall best value for money, but the gap between them and the rest is very small. And they all cost the public in extra taxation and/or insurance costs a tiny fraction of the amount so many Americans are willing to pay, because ‘freedom’!

From personal experience, friends’ and relatives’ experience, and reports, it is well known that the American system is rife with fraud, profiteering, and corruption at every level, with massive collusion between all of the providers to maximise return and profit. In any other country, these people would be in jail, and their companies shut down. One simple, very basic example; the NHS sources much of its saline drip pack requirements from the US. The NHS pays the suppliers between 50 cents and $1 per pack. The average American gets charged between $160 and $200 per pack for the same stuff from the same suppliers!

Like the gun infatuation, this state of affairs is baffling to outsiders. It is turkeys voting for Christmas.

It's not your fault. It is awful. Progressives need to vote and support their candidates with time or money.

The USA has lost its heart...

The Establishment values the dollar more than human dignity, and life.

So I'm coming back to this post because I think the issue is far bigger than just one man or even one town or state. There seems to be a quiet war of attrition going on in the US . Poor people are being denied benefits or having them delayed so far out that we're dying in large numbers before help arrives. I think we need to draw attention to this phenomenon. Anyone have suggestions on who to contact? I'm more than happy to write letters or make phone calls. I think many people feel that they've simply fallen on hard times and that's why they're struggling but the frequency with which I'm hearing stories like this makes me think its a nationwide issue.

This concept is so foreign to countries like Canada, Australia, Japan and the EU (probably others). It's sad to hear about it. It's futile for me to try to be encouraging.

This is capitalism. This is the system we are all taught to love and admire. If we question it, we're labelled commies or lefties.

F*** capitalism.

(((Alyx))) It's so wrong!

Major frustration. You can understand it happening in a 3rd world country.
Hang in there, remember some of the wins, remember you are doing all you can and the world is a better place because of your efforts.

I blame Brewer the Executioner, former Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona. She just started crossing things off her state's approved medicaid treatment list and people started dying. If any of you remember anti-obamacare arguments about "death panels," please note that Brewer and her demonic crew, Republicans, had the only death panel.

That’s terrible. I feel so lucky to have supportive family. My insulin went from $90 to $300 in January. On my own I could never afford it.

Sorry for your loss. I've seen people go bankrupt because of medical bills. I've also seen people die because they couldn't afford treatment. You can judge a country by how it treats their sick. I'd guess this is a hard time for you, so I won't elaborate.

Take Care~ Mike

So who do you want to blame pharmaceutical the Congress the health care industry or maybe insurance companies any combination of all of them are responsible for greed.

Oh, sweetie, I can only begin to imagine how awful this must be. Hugs
I help several people here when they have difficulty paying for drugs or medical supplies. At least it's not hideously expensive for me.

And until we get some good legislation or limit CEO salaries and stop lobbiests from buying representatives its gonna get worse

Come to Africa and see the worst of the worst !

Dont hert youself and try to find somewere consructive to put your anger