Money = health?

I went to the movies last night and saw 'The Visitor' which got great reviews from the critics but I was just so so about it.  However it has played on my mind today so maybe the message stayed with me a tad.  Also maybe because I too am basically an immigrant here in America.  The story was  about a cold, uptight University professor in Connecticut who was also a widow.  Dissatisfied with life, but quite wealthy he was living by just going through the motions.  Under duress he had to go into New York to present a paper - so went to his apartment there (common for people to have houses in Connecticut an apartment in NYC) only to find 2 people had moved in.  They had been living there a few months - that was how little he used the place.  Both illegal immigrants he throws them out then takes pity on them and allows them to move back in until they find another place.  Through the illegal male immigrant from Syria, uptight professor learns to play the drums - they bond and in a trip on the Subway, the Syrian guy gets taken in by Police - his subway pass had not worked so he had jumped the barrier - the Police stopped him for that but then saw that he was illegal - took him in.....Basically, illegal, no matter how long you have been in US - few rights.  I understand this.  I know the INS system....we have jumped through the loops but were lucky enough to afford the attorney to help us with the system too.  But it all makes you think.....(won't give the ending though)..

Jump to today.  Took Bee back for a check up after the tonsillectomy - to the Ear, Nose, Throat surgeon. Now this is a specialist - you don't just go and see him on a whim.  There was a young mum in the waiting room with a most beautiful newborn baby girl.  So so sweet.  The mum was besotted with her - you could tell - but there must have been an issue with the baby for her to have been there - hopefully something simple enough to get  out of that office sharpish.  Of course before you see the Doctor you have to show your proof of Insurance, fill in loads of forms and pay any applicable co-pay (for us that is $20 each time to see the Dr - on top of the monthly Health Insurance payment - not sure how much that is for us exactly but at least $500 I would say).  This young mum was balancing the baby girl on her knee and filling in the forms - the receptionist then picked up the forms and asked her for her insurance card.  The young girl (she was 20 tops I would say) mumbled that she didn't have insurance....and yet asked if the Doctor would still see her.  The receptionist said she would have to pay the full amount herself - no insurance deal - and they would mail the bill on to her.  You could see the fear in the woman's eyes.  It was quite pitiful.  She wants her baby to be seen but has no way to pay for it.  It was heart breaking to watch.

We were seen for 5 minutes by the Doctor.  They will no doubt bill the Insurance carrier for $350 for that but because of the secret handshake deal between the Insurance carrier and this Doctor (who is in their network) they will probably agree to pay maybe $200 and the Dr will write off the other $150.  The poor mum who really can't afford this necessary visit will probably get no break - be billed for the full ~$350.....and get into (more?) debt ....and have even less chance of having money to get her health insurance.  I know there are arguments for both sides of this.  Yes she might have been legal - then again, maybe she wasn't.  But just the basic right to treatment - the innocent child and the mother's predicament....you would have needed a heart of stone not to have been touched with it in that waiting room today.