John Q

[Interviewed by Tuck Lampley] I've got to be honest this whole thing sucks, it could've all been avoided incredibly easy, none of this had to happen if John could've been a millionaire or if his last name was Rockefeller, sometimes he doesn't understand what we hold sacred in this country isn't values, its "value" that's important, we've got haves and we've got have not we've got white collar, blue collar and then we've got no collar, inside the hospital we've got "luck surgery" and "out of luck surgery", there's a lot of people out there who don't have two hundred fifty grand in their bill fold, seeing a man like that backing into a corner it seems to me "something" is out of whack, not "someone."

John Q., CC BY-SA 4.0

Employee Manager: Your policy has changed, Mr. Archibald. John Q. Archibald: Changed to what? Employee Manager: Yeah, we recently switched carriers from a PPO to a HMO. It's a less expensive policy, but unfortunately, there are some restrictions. John Q. Archibald: What kind of restrictions? Employee Manager: Here's how it works: Non-management part-time employees, such as yourself, only qualify for second tier catastrophic coverage. John Q. Archibald: No, no. I'm not part-time. I'm full-time. It's just slow right now. Employee Manager: Sure, but your coverage is based on hours worked and like I said, you only qualify for second tier. And that has a maximum payout limit of $20,000. John Q. Archibald: [shocked] What? Wha- I-I mean-I mean, you guys have been taking money out of my paycheck every week. I've been paying into this policy for years. Employee Manager: Right. And that's why we're gonna cover you for the full twenty. John Q. Archibald: You can't be right. I mean, come on. Alrig

John Q., CC BY-SA 4.0

Rebecca Payne: No, no, no. This is an appeal. An appeal is for an already existing claim. What you needed to file was a grievance. You filed the wrong paperwork. John Q. Archibald: Wait a minute... Rebecca Payne: You're gonna have to resubmit. It could take up to 30 days. John Q. Archibald: [frustrated] Look, I don't have 30 days. Rebecca Payne: I know you don't. John Q. Archibald: And quite frankly, I'm getting sick of the runaround. Now what I need is my son's name... Rebecca Payne: Mr. Archibald, your account is in access of $30,000. The hospital has bent over backwards to help you out. John Q. Archibald: Is that right? Rebecca Payne: Yes! It is right. But there's a limit to our generosity. Once and for all, your insurance does not cover this.

John Q., CC BY-SA 4.0

John Q. Archibald: Who was driving? Mitch Quigley: Huh? John Q. Archibald: The car. Who was driving? Mitch Quigley: I was. What's that got to do with anything? John Q. Archibald: Why's your girl all banged up and you're not? Mitch Quigley: [shows light scratches on arm] What do you call this? Mitch Quigley: What are you laughing at? Lester Matthews: Somebody get this fool a band-aid. I don't want you to bleed to death. Mitch Quigley: Screw you man. This shit hurts. Julie Byrd: His airbag went off and mine didn't. John Q. Archibald: What kind of car do you drive? Mitch Quigley: Mercedes 500. John Q. Archibald: You drive a Mercedes 500? Oh. What year? Mitch Quigley: 1986. It's a classic. John Q. Archibald: Mercedes didn't make passenger side air-bags til 1988. Lester Matthews: [laughs] Busted!

John Q., CC BY-SA 4.0

John Q. Archibald: You know, what I don't understand is why they never found it, the doctors. My son has had clean checkups every year since the day he was born. How could the doctors not pick it up? Dr. Turner: He might not have been tested thoroughly enough. John Q. Archibald: Why not? Steve Maguire: You got an HMO, right? John Q. Archibald: Yeah. Steve Maguire: Well, there's your answer. I mean, HMO's pay their doctors not to test. It's their way of keeping costs down. Now, let's say Michael did need additional testing and insurance says they won't cover them. The doctor keeps his mouth shut, and come Christmas, [points to Dr. Turner] The HMO sends the doctor a fat-ass bonus cheque. John Q. Archibald: [to Dr. Turner] Is that true? Dr. Turner: Possible. Not likely, but possible. John Q. Archibald: You telling me that these doctors may have known what was wrong with my son and they could have treated him all along? Dr. Turner: Who knows? I don't know. Lester Matthews: Don't take this

John Q., CC BY-SA 4.0

Mitch Quigley: This country man, can't go anywhere without getting' mugged, or murdered or stabbed. Kids killin' their classmates, drivebys, ya know, I won't even go into a post office any more. Steve Maguire: Shut up, Mitch. Dr. Turner: No, you shut up. I hate the little bastard, but he's right. You know how easy it is to get a gun in the country? In five minutes, boom, gun show.

John Q., CC BY-SA 4.0