Sicko 2007

Writer and producer Michael Moore embarks on a compelling journey to expose the troubling realities faced by Americans who have been denied crucial medical treatment by health care insurance companies. These organizations prioritize profit over essential health services, resulting in devastating outcomes for individuals, often leading to bankruptcy or, even worse, the unnecessary deaths of loved ones.

Moore boldly shifts his focus to evaluate universal free health care systems in countries such as Canada, France, Britain, and Cuba. In doing so, he effectively dismantles the pervasive fears—such as diminished quality of care, inadequate compensation for doctors, and burdensome government oversight—that have deterred Americans from advocating for a similar system at home. By tracing the roots of these successful health care systems, he highlights how the failure to adopt universal coverage in the U.S. can be attributed to President Richard Nixon’s illusory backing of managed care organizations (HMOs) that sought to maximize profits, along with the ongoing pressures on Congress to prioritize corporate interests over sound health care reforms.

One poignant segment of the film features a group of Americans who fell ill after volunteering at the 911 Ground Zero site but were denied health coverage for their ailments. In a striking move, Moore transports these individuals to Cuba, where they receive exceptional, free medical care—an experience that underscores the disparity between health care access at home and abroad.

Through a combination of interviews, historical context, and his signature sarcastic humor, Moore delivers a scathing critique of American health insurance and pharmaceutical companies, along with the politicians who have profited greatly by catering to their interests. He compellingly argues that it is troubling that Americans fail to learn from the successes of other nations, which provide a higher quality of health care than is currently available in the United States.