Cheeseburger Healthcare? Cardiologist's Viral Video Exposes Insurance Limits

Healthcare Choices Limited by Insurers: A Cardiologist's Take In a short video gaining traction online, Dr. Evan S. Levine, MD FACC, uses a humorous approach to highlight concerns about the restrictive nature of some healthcare plans. The video, uploaded May 31st, 2025, employs a clip from a Saturday Night Live skit depicting a diner where only cheeseburgers are served, regardless of customer requests. Dr. Levine draws a parallel between this scenario and the limited choices patients often face when selecting treatments or procedures within their insurance coverage. "Imagine the customer is a patient, and the person working for the insurance company is like the guy in the SNL skit," Dr. Levine explains in the video. "They can only get a cheeseburger—no stress test, no CT imaging, just an EKG." This analogy effectively illustrates the frustration of patients whose healthcare options are constrained by their insurance provider's policies. While the video uses a pre-existing skit, its message resonates with the ongoing public discourse about the affordability and accessibility of healthcare. The video's popularity, with over 5000 views in less than a day, suggests significant public interest in this topic. Dr. Levine's perspective as both a cardiologist and patient advocate lends credibility to the concerns raised, prompting further discussion on the need for greater patient choice and transparency in healthcare.