An ad idea for Health Care Reform.

EXT. HOME -NIGHT

Flames and smokerise up from a suburban home. A family, father, mother and two young girls,rush out the front door onto the lawn. The father holds a cell phone to hisear.

DISPATCHER (O.S.)

This is 911. What is your emergency?

FATHER

Our house is on fire!

DISPATCHER (O.S.)

Which fire company would you like me to connect you with?

FATHER

I don’t care! Any of them!

DISPATCHER (O.S.)

One moment, sir.

RINGING

RECEPTIONIST 1 (O.S.)

Thank you for calling Fire Fighters Incorporated.

How can we help you?

FATHER

Our house is on fire!

The flamesgrow larger. The mother hugs her two sobbing daughters.

RECEPTIONIST 1 (O.S.)

Can I get your insurance information, please, sir?

FATHER

(To wife)

Who’s our insurer?

WIFE

Home Fires Insurance.

FATHER

We’re with Home Fires Insurance.

RECEPTIONIST 1 (O.S.)

I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept Home Fires Insurance.

You’ll have to call another fire company.

CLICK. DIALTONE.

Flamescrackle and leap from the house. The father dials furiously.

DISPATCHER (O.S.)

This is 911. What is your emergency?

FATHER

I need a fire company that accepts Home Fires Insurance!

DISPATCHER (O.S.)

One moment, sir.

RINGING

RECEPTIONIST 2 (O.S.)

Thank you for calling The Fire Syndicate.

How can I help you?

FATHER

Our house is on fire! We have Home Fires Insurance!

RECEPTIONIST 2 (O.S.)

Can I get the name and address on the account, please, sir?

FATHER

It’s Max Bailey at 921 Elm Street.

RECEPTIONIST 2 (O.S.)

Thank you, sir. It looks like there is a $1500 deductible on

your policy, along with a 20% co-pay. Will you be paying

that with cash or credit card, sir?

FATHER

Uh, credit card.

RECEPTIONIST 2 (O.S.)

Thank you, sir. Can I please get the card number and

expiration date?

FATHER

My credit cards are burning up inside my house.

The house isalmost entirely engulfed in flames.

RECEPTIONIST 2 (O.S.)

I’m sorry to hear that, sir. If you like, we can extend youa

line of credit backed by a lien on your property. We just

need your social security number to check you credit

report, sir.

FATHER

Okay, it’s…

The wordsare BLEEPED out as he gives his ss#.

RECEPTIONIST 2 (O.S.)

I’m sorry, sir, but your credit report shows outstanding

debts from unpaid medical bills. I’m afraid we will need

a cash payment.

Flames crackand rip through the house. The father looks desperately at his wife.

VOICE OVER

Imagine if your health care system functioned like this.

WIFE

We can use the girls’ college savings.

VOICE OVER

Paid for by…