Health care makes it to the big screen in Sisters

As Sisters takes a look at the Michael Moore movie "Sicko," controversy seems to surround the filmmaker rather than the facts and views that he presents.

America is the richest of all developed countries yet the only developed country in the world that does not provide health care for its citizens. Of all the developed countries of the world, America also has the lowest life expectancy and highest infant mortality rates.

"Sicko" has been lightly attended at Sisters Movie House; nearly everyone who leaves the film comments on how disappointing it is that more people are not watching it.

"I was disappointed to see that there were so few people who were watching the movie," said Steve Zalewski, who is staying in Sisters for the next two weeks. "The other movies had big crowds. Don't get me wrong, I would like to see the other movies, too. But this is meat and potatoes. It is real, and it affects everybody. It is critical to know about this. The other is just entertainment."

Not everyone shared Zalewski's view. One elderly woman who refused to give her name said that she had heard about the film on Fox, and it is just exaggerations.

For one Sisters resident there was not a lot of exaggeration.

"I lost my job at Black Butte (Ranch) and my health insurance," said Michele Williams, Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts Project Director. "Since I have health problems, I am uninsurable and now have to pay for my own medication. One prescription costs me $2,400 per month. It cost me about $3,000 a month to stay alive."

For Zalewski and his wife, carrying health insurance is a heavy burden. The couple travels full time. Zalewski used to live in Bend before retiring and is only in Sisters for a few weeks before heading south.

"We have health insurance. It costs us a fortune. We are traveling full time and are not employed so we pay the premiums ourself. They are horrendous, but we can't be without it. There is no other alternative," he said.

Although Zalewski has carried insurance for many years, he is still a little dubious about how effective the coverage will actually be if he has a major need.

"I am fearful that, if something happens to either one of us and we go to them (the health insurance company) and say that it is time for you to pony up the money because we have been paying premiums for all these years, they will find a way to deny it. These hatchet men they have on staff are only there to find ways to deny large claims," he said.

Few alternatives are available to the average person, especially if they have had problems in the past.

"Health care is awful. If you have any pre-existing conditions you are screwed. I don't know what happens if you don't have the money to afford the care or insurance. I guess you just die," said Williams.

"I saw this movie and wondered who is paying for all this stuff and I realized that we are paying for it," said Zalewski.

"One of the doctors (from London) in the film said: 'I live in a million dollar home in London and have two new cars. It is enough for me. But if I wanted a five million dollar home and five new cars I should go to America and practice there.' So the question is, how much do we really need here."

The options for those who have limited funding are scarce, and even the best option may be out of reach financially.

"I have been thinking about where to go from here. Maybe the smartest thing to do is to move to a different country. But why should I have to do that? It is just crazy," said Williams.

Zalewski believes that there will need to be a real change in the culture of the United States government before there can be meaningful changes in health care. He said that the quote in the movie was exactly right as to why they have such good health care in France but not here: "'The main difference between France and the United States is that in France the government is afraid of the people. Here the people are afraid of the government.'"