Ah..so you are basically saying that HMOs are a bad way to go in terms of dealing with Americans that actually get sick?

Yeah..I think so too.
Actually, I have a different view onhealthcare insurance than pretty much anyone out there...on both sides of the aisle.
Healthcare insurance is supposed to be that...INSURANCE.
Insuracne for something out of the ordinary. Like auto insurance; home insurance; etc...
It should be ONLY for catastrophic.
Not for annual visits...inoculations...things such as that.
Those things should be deemed as "cost of living" such as rent, food, etc.
My father in law was a pediatrician. He used to have people bring thier kids in becasue they had a runny nose....5 yeqar olds with a runny nose....and they would come in, he would say they have a runny nose...and the insuracne company had to pay out 1000 bucks...
He has had parenbts bring theuir kids in with a bloody knee......he would clean it up and put a bandaid on it...and the insurance company had to pay.
My practitioner would laugh at how he has the same patients coming in week after week with hang nails, chapped lips, mild rashes....and why? Becuase it gave them something to do and they didnt need to pay for it...their insurance company paid for it...
The way I see it? Insurance is supposed to be INSURANCE....in case something terrible happens.