Jason & Susan

Last night, we watched Michael Moore’s latest documentary, Sicko. The film is about the U.S. health care industry and how it compares to the health care system of other countries. While this film should be watched with a grain of salt, Moore does bring out one facet of the U.S. health care system that fails miserably compared to other countries. The rich receive the best medical care because they can afford it. The middle-class folks receive somewhat decent health care, but just don’t get seriously ill with cancer or brain tumor. And the poor? Pray really hard that you don’t get sick at all!

The idea of universal health care in other countries seems to be a system in which everyone in the country is taken care of, from the rich to the poor to the least. The film seems to portray the splendor and glory of this universal health care system. So if universal health system is so great and wonderful, then why doesn’t every country adopt this system? There must be a fine print somewhere. Either that or this is the biggest conspiracy of the health care conglomerates and politicians to keep the profits for themselves.

We’ve never lived in a country where universal health care is provided, so we don’t understand how the system really works or how good the health care really is. We do know people, family and friends, who have lived under such a system and are quite pleased with the quality of the health care they received. Then again, most people we know are middle-class white-collar folks who earn decent income, have (or can afford) decent health coverage, and have no serious medical conditions or illnesses.

The true test is what happens when the unexpected happens. Unemployment. Bankruptcy. Disability. Accident. Major catastrophe. Inability to pay for emergencies. Things we’d rather not think about and pray that will never happen to us. And we’re the blessed middle-class people. There are at least five billion people in this world currently living in the “nightmare” that we dare not speak of.

According to the film, England adopted the universal health system after World War II because the country was in shambles. Everyone pulled together resources and worked together to rebuild the country as a whole. Everybody pitched in and everybody was taken care of.

In the U.S., there are many systems in place to take care of the poor and the needy, like social security, Medicare, disability benefits, housing subsidy, and unemployment check. Why isn’t there a system in place to provide even the most basic health care to the poor and the least?

We live in China and from what we’ve seen, it doesn’t look like China has that system in place either. Recently, a friend who’s mother had a severe stroke and was in a coma due to brain hemorrhaging. She had surgery and was placed under intensive care for several days. One week of medical care racked up a bill over 150,000 RMB ($20K USD), an amount that him and his family will never earn in their lifetime. They’re from one of the poorest provinces in China (Anhui) and make about $200-300 USD a month. Despite their financial woes, they are thankful the hospital at least took her in and cared for her. Most people are just left to die because hospitals won’t admit people who can’t pay the money upfront. Now, they have to find the means to pay the bill and will probably be in debt for the rest of their lives, unless the community steps up to help a brother in need.

The question we ask is, if a country does not have a system in place to care for the poor and the least, then what can we do? What can the community and the body of believers do to help those who are in need?

The socialist view (of which the universal health care system adopts) is to pull together resources and redistribute them so that everyone is taken care of. By the way, this is different than the communist view which calls for equal distribution of everything. But here, we’re addressing only the most basic needs (like health care and employment).

In a society where no system is in place to care for the poor and the least, we feel that it is then of utmost importance that those who make more ought to and should contribute just a little bit more to help those who can’t help themselves.

The Biblical perspective is that everything we “have” really belongs to God and that we are merely stewards of these resources. Giving to the community should not be an obligation, but out of a motivation of love and compassion, and following the examples and teachings as taught in scripture. Thus, it is our responsibility (just as much as obligation) to make sure that God’s resources are used in ways that He wants to see them used. Because Lord-willing (we pray not), we might unexpectedly end up on the other side of the chasm between the rich and the poor.

Give minimally a tenth.

Better yet, give all that you can give to help the poor and the least. Let’s partake in the joy and the pleasure of being part of God’s community here on earth.