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urance company declined paying for it (due to the preexisting conditions). Doctors delayed her treatment because she couldn't pay for it. Outraged by the failure of the American system, the couple decided to seek help in post-communist Poland. Both of them talked about her successful surgery and their positive experience. Of course, free medicine in Poland doesn't apply to non-citizens, therefore the couple had to pay the bill, which was two-thirds less than in the United States ('Being sick in America: try the Polish Cure' 1-4). I am happy for that couple who had a positive experience with socialized medicine, but it makes me sad that other Americans can't try a better health care system.

Besides taking an example from European socialized medicine, we should make changes in our insurance companies. Some Americans worry about letting the government control our health system but can't see that hospitals, doctors, and all of us are already controlled by the private insurance companies. These companies are thinking about profit, not the well-being of the insured. That's why in our benefits packages we can find so many exclusions. Why should the insurance companies deny further medical help to the people with some medical history? For instance, when the wife of the American filmmaker had a history of heart problems, should she be left without the help of the doctors because she couldn't pay ('Being sick in America: try the Polish cure'1-4)? We pay enough money for our insurance, and sometimes we don't even use it, so why do the insurance companies penalize us when we need their help? If we would follow any European medical system then we wouldn't have to worry about exclusions due to preexisting conditions; they don't exist in socialized medicine. The other change that the insurance companies should make involves equal opportunities in purchasing health plans. We all know that insurance companies sell better health care plans to the big group companies than they sell to a single individual. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to work for a company with great benefits. Does this mean that insurance companies have to take advantage of these individuals by limiting their benefits and overcharging them? Of course not, and that's why we have to make changes in our insurance companies.

My last proposal in changing our current medical system involves preventive medicine, such as regular doctor, dental, and eye care. Based on my experience from Poland and some knowledge about Germany's program, I know that preventive medicine should be on the priority list of American medical coverage, but it is not. Actually, many insurance companies exclude preventive care from their benefit packages, causing people to overlook the early signs of future health problems. J.Goodman and G.Musgrave presented some statistics about deaths which could be avoided if preventive medicine was applied ('Preventive Medicine' 1-2). Can't the insurance companies see that by not offering preventive care, the costs of further treatment will be higher? Now, what about dental and eye care, which most of the insurers offer as an optional service. Should these parts of our bodies be neglected, and are they not as important as the rest of our organs? Yes, they are, and that's why we have to change the thinking process of American insurance companies. For example, if we go to the dentist for regular check-ups, then we prevent further co