Guardian UK: How US private insurance healthcare is failing
How US private insurance healthcare is failing
Sky-high premiums, denied treatments, families bankrupted by medical bills
which bit of US healthcare would you like?
Rose Ann DeMoro
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 26 January 2012
Chances are you've probably never heard of Amelia Rivera, a three year-old from New Jersey. Chances are better you have heard of 29-year-old Canadian, Sarah Burke, one of the best freestyle skiers in the world.
Burke and Rivera don't have a lot in common, but tragically, their families do. Both have been borne the scars of a callous and broken US healthcare system which, apparently, brings a gleam to the eyes of those seeking to promote privatization in their overhaul of the NHS in the UK
For those who missed the story, Burke, the six-time X Games gold medalist, was training in Park City Utah, 20 January, when she crashed and suffered major brain trauma. Flown to a prestigious hospital in Salt Lake City, Burke spent nine days in neuro-critical care before, sadly, she died.
As if the grief of her death was not enough, Burke's husband had to start a website to ask for donations to help pay the massive medical bill, estimates ranging as high as $550,000. .................(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/jan/26/us-private-insurance-healthcare-system-failure