Burke's death costs family hefty medical bill

Sarah Burke died while practicing at an unsanctioned event in Utah. Why did it matter what kind of event it was? Because her insurance coverage in the U.S. did not cover unsanctioned events.

This meant that upon her death, her family was left with a medical bill in the hundreds of thousands of dollars—early reports put it at $550,000, but latter reports suggest it was in the neighborhood of $200,000. If Burke had suffered the accident at any kind of event in her native country of Canada, her medical bill would have cost her family nothing.

Burke's death is the latest incident raising the viability of President Barack Obama's healthcare plan, which has called for a universal healthcare insurance available for all at affordable costs, but which has been opposed by the majority of the Republican Party. Republicans now control the House, but long before the swing, several states had filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the government's ability to mandate states health laws.

What many opposers to the plan are saying is that Obama is introducing socialism to the U.S. by allowing the wealthy minority pay for the poor majority, but what Burke's death shows is that the mounting cost of paying for health care can affect anyone.

Fortunately for the charismatic athlete, her fans have shouldered the burden of paying her bills through donations. A reported $285,000 has been raised and her family has vowed to use any extra money to start a foundation in her name.

It would have been a worthy gesture if the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association had picked up the tab on Burke's bill considering how big an ambassador she has been to not just the sport, but for Canada as well. Still it's good to know that after all her family has been through since she first slipped into a coma, they won't be crippled by a financial setback.

Now, if only the rest of America can have the luxury of walking into a hospital for a medical procedure or check up without the fear of becoming bankrupt by the time they walk out.