I am a 28-year old female living in New York City. I have a post-graduate degree, and I work full-time as a freelance Writer/Producer. I made the choice to pursue my dreams in the entertainment industry, but unfortunately, that decision comes at a cost -- I do not have health care benefits. I haven't been to the doctor in years, and it is my prayer that I won't have to until I have health care. Though I work full-time and make a decent salary, it is basically impossible for me to afford health care for various reasons. One, New York City... (more)

Corporate healthcare insurance companies are currently making billions of dollars from sick & dying Americans. Everytime an insurance company denies a needed procedure or operation to a sick American the CEO gets a bigger bonus. This perverted, for-profit system of healthcare must be changed. Universal Healthcare for all citizens must become law in the U.S. Every other industrialized nation on earth provides healthcare for it's citizens, except for the United States of America. This is wrong, this must be changed. Can we stand up to... (more)

my wife is self-employed and had Kaiser insurance but when "we" got pregnant we discovered that in the fine print there is no coverage for delivery or any aspect of the pregnancy - We decided to move to her country of origin - Holland - to have the child ~ where they actually take care of their people ~ and the delivery was done in the hospital by a mid-wife with no problems and everything covered ~ so many countries have decent affordable government run health care - I've been there and its no nightmare - I don't understand why its... (more)

The other day my accountant just about fell out of his chair. Why? He couldn't believe how much my wife and I had paid for health care premiums and deductibles in 2008: just over $24,000. My wife and I own our own business. We gross just under $95,000/year. Neither I nor my wife or two kids have cancer or need dialysis or any other expensive treatment. We're all fairly healthy. The problem is, the insurance company knows we need health insurance and that we have "pre-existing conditions." So they can charge whatever they want, and... (more)

I first worked on health care reform in 1973 at the former Health, Education and Welfare. We had some hopes even then, that reform was imminent. It is now 2009, 36 years later, and my belief that there must be a radical restructuring of the system has only gotten stronger. About four years ago, I got seafood poisoning while on vacation in Spain. I spent 36 hours in the emergency room, most of which I can't remember, but I was subjected to blood tests, CAT scans, and other diagnostic tests, and treated. Upon my release, I was presented... (more)

I have not had healthcare in over 3 years I am a temp at my job and they do not provide benefits. However they say I am not eligible for Medicaid. In no way can I afford to pay for healthcare at the prices they charge. I am a 35 year old woman with health issues who cannot even see a doctor. I was diagnosed with Fibroids after suffering a miscarriage I had to stay in the hospital and have a D&C performed with no insurance the bill was about 5k I cant afford to pay so now i'm in collections. On top of that never have been able to have... (more)

I reside in Canada and I would like to take this opportunity to clarify some misconceptions that appear on TV. Our health care system is not with out it's problems, I have not met anyone in a long time who would like to trade it for something else. We don't avoid government but look to Government to fix the probmes. Canadians are also smart enough to realize that private and public health care cannot co-exist. We have a set of principals which the health care delivery system must meet. Private health care erodes many resources needed by the... (more)

I am angry that, after nearly 30 years in the workforce and being a productive, tax-paying citizen, I will be unable to obtain affordable health insurance simply because I am getting divorced. I have been a professional but have always chosen to be insured under my spouse's insurance because it was more affordable and was the family plan option to cover the children already. Now, due to some pre-existing conditions, I MIGHT be able to get health care at almost $1,000/month, unless I can find a job in this economy that provides some form of... (more)

After retirement at age 63 I was provided a continuation of my medical insurance with a low premium for my wife and myself. When I reached 65 the company increased my premium to where it was more affordable to move to Medicare administered by United Health Care with a premium paid from my Social Security and a low monthly payment from me, but not covering my wife. I have had major medical issues and very expensive surgeries, with 95% of costs covered. I conclude that Medicare is a very good, though not perfect, program. There are still too... (more)

As I type this email, my husband is sick with a 102 temperature; we have not had medical insurance or seen an M.D. in over 8 years. I was diagnosed with a benign tumor on my tailbone the last time I could afford to see a physician. The tumor has gotten bigger & more painful; I can not sit or lay down the majority of the time. Both my husband & I suspect that we need glasses due to the fact that we are squinting a great deal. We would like to know if either one of us needs dental work. I long for a day when my husband & I can... (more)

My brother recently passed away 6 months after being diagnosed with multiple myloma (blood marrow cancer). He didnt have health insurance because he was self employed and the costs were too much. He took a gamble, yes partly because he had no health issues and because he was single and only 44 years old. Once he started having symptoms he did not go to a doctor because he didnt want to pay the costs for a visit. His Dr was the family's Doctor and would charge $100 a visit if you had no insurance. My parents would go and get charged... (more)

Mr. President: I am a doctor- heathcare is my life. Every day of my life I hear how my patients are abused by insurance companies. These companies say costs are too high, but, like many doctors, I have to borrow to stay in practice. Most doctors want single payor- in spite of what the AMA recently said. The system as it is, is unsustainable, because the insurance companies take 40% of every healthcare dollar and I have to hire more staff to handle their paperwork. I see more and more patients who are between jobs with no insurance pro... (more)

My sister was a pediatric oncology nurse at Stanford Children's hospital for 20 years, caring for terminally ill children and making a difference in the life of so many families in a positive way. Ten years ago she was diagnosed with a chronic pain disorder known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. She could no longer work. Our healthcare system has failed her. She is on disability and Social Security - she canot get accupunture - not covered. No physical therapy - not covered. No pain clinic - not covered. She basically gave her... (more)

I was in the hospital last year, in Inglewood, CA. My blood pressure spiked one day, and they kept me there for 5 days. The hooked a heart monitor to me, but otherwise, there was no special treatment. My bill: $35,000.00. The absurdity of that is unfathomable.

My father (87 years old) saw a TV ad for Humana Insurance for $39.00 a month. He dropped his Medicare Insurance and signed up for Humana. The Humana option came about by the last "health care reform". My dad used to be able to go to any doctor. I haven't been able to get an appointment for my dad with a family practitioner because the phone of the only doctor in his plan near him is constantly busy. His prescriptions are now being denied right and left. It is a nightmare for me. I want single payer now, not "health care... (more)

Dear Mr. President: I am the Mayor of a rural town in Oklahoma. You probably wouldn't be surprised at how many of us don't have health insurance. Most here don't believe that you are listening to them. I do. I don't expect you to read this. My husband and I are in our late 40's. It would cost us over $1,600 a month for insurance. We own a small business in SE Oklahoma. We watched and hoped that you were the "breath of fresh air" that this country needed. We voted for the former president twice, and just knew we needed a... (more)

I had great coverage through my employer, not perfect but it was great coverage, I thought. It is only great coverage as long as you don't get sick. This is what the people against reform don't understand until they get sick. In July I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because of the aggressive treatment I needed, I lost my job and once my "prescription benefit" ran out for the calender year I was supposed to pay for my chemo myself. I have lost everything and had to depend on charity organizations and friends to help me continue to... (more)

I work as a writer and editor in pharmaceuticals advertising. I see every day how pharma companies distort their findings to influence doctors and other health professionals to prescribe their drugs, even if there are cheaper alternatives or if it is not clear that the drug makes an appreciable difference in quality of life. In fact, sometimes these drugs have the potential to do more harm than good, and the FDA still approves them, because the system by which drugs are approved or not is itself broken. Luci

My husband has been a surgeon and I have been a nurse for 30 years. On a professional and personal basis we have seen accessibility decline and people critically ill whose biggest concern is not recovery but keeping their jobs. It is shameful that we subject people, at their sickest and most vulnerable time, to the disjointed and stressful system created by private insurers.

I am an oncology RN in Chattanooga, TN. I see on a daily basis the devastating effects of people not have health insurance. People can not afford to go to a primary care provider when the start having problems. So they wait until they are so ill they have to go to the ER for care. Most are so ill that they have to be admitted to the hospital. Having waited so long for care they now have multiple medical problems that are a result of the initial illness going untreated. I see people that have warning signs of cancer but ignore... (more)