Dear President Obama, My story is probably far too typical in this day and age. I have a family of four, myself, my wife Nancy, and our two daughters Emily and Rebecca. Nancy is diabetic, and I am on blood pressure medicine. Our daughters have endured all of the childhood health issues, everything from broken bones to strep throat to orthodontic braces to glasses and contact lenses. My employer offers access to a health plan, but does not provide or pay for it. I pay the entire premium, approximately $1200 per month, along with all of... (more)

I am a physician. Off the top of my head I can think of two patients in recent months who became ill, then lost their job because they were sick, and so also lost their health insurance. Then they couldn't get further treatment they needed for their illness. The first had a severe skin infection that required treatment in the hospital and time off work. After losing her job and insurance she could no longer afford the expensive medication for rheumatoid arthritis that had allowed her to function, work and be an active person. Society loses... (more)

My mother went to the hospital 3 months ago because she had terrible pains in her lower stomach. The doctor told her that she had an infection in her intestines. Her hospital stay was only 3 hours long but she received a bill for $11,750 which is more than half her yearly salary. how is she suppose to pay for it? It is really a shame to have to pay this absurd amount for healthcare.

My closest friend and next-door neighbor, Gil Flores died almost one year ago on June 26, 2009 because he NEVER had the luxury of having health insurance at the young age of 39. A native of the South Bronx, he worked as a doorman for 18 years and never missed a day of work. But none of his employers ever offered him health insurance. He suffered from asthma, diabetes and could never afford health/medical care on his minimum wage jobs. The lack of public health insurance murdered my friend. This must end. Thank you President Obama.

The American Cancer Society stated recently that lack of health insurance is more deadly than tobacco with regard to cancer deaths. How can a country of such wealth and abundance allow people to die because of their financial misfortunes? Why is this country not first in longevity, infant mortality rates and other leading indicators of quality health care?

My name is Lisa Green. I am a 41 year-old mother of two young boys. When I was 22 I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and immediately underwent two brain surgeries, one to remove the tumor and one to place a permanent drain. I was fortunate, I had health insurance at the time of my diagnosis. What I would come to learn is the benign tumor and lifesaving surgeries forever abolished my ability to obtain health insurance on my own. The only way for me to have health insurance is to be a part of a large group plan, the type usually... (more)

I lost my sister Margaret, who died when she was 47 years old, because she was worried about visiting the doctor. When her daughter finally took her in, it was too late. She died the next day from an infection in her digestive tract. This tragedy could have been averted if Margaret understood - and experienced - the fact that health care is for everyone not just for those who can afford it.

Jessica Leanne Hurt died on June 13, 2009. She was 21 years old. Jessica had gallstones, which could have been fixed by a fairly minor surgical procedure. Although there is a crisis in this country, with over 45 million people uninsured, that was not Jessica’s situation. She was employed and had health insurance. As the gallstone problem developed she sought treatment and surgery was recommended. However, she was informed that she would be required to pay $5000 upfront to cover her deductible and co-pay before she could have... (more)

I'm in my mid twenties and have always been quite healthy - athletic, non-smoker, 5'4, 120 pounds. Then in 2006, I was diagnosed with severe cervical dysplasia, which is the precursor to cervical cancer. After undergoing a LEEP procedure to remove pre-cancerous cells from my cervix using a laser, my insurance company not only dropped me from any further coverage related to cervical dysplasia/cancer, but from all other cancer coverage, period. You name it - brain, bone, lung, whatever - not covered. It didn't matter to them that those other... (more)

To my congressmen and senators in Tennessee: In our country you only get as much healthcare as you can afford. My grandmother would still be living if she had received better care. She was booted from a rehabilitation hospital when her coverage ran out. She went home and her condition gradually worsened until she had to be readmitted to a regular hospital and soon died. Please support the Presidents plan to overhaul the healthcare system. I know you may think it is popular to oppose the President in our state but think about this. The people... (more)

A few months ago, I was walking back from my child’s school and entered my car. My Lincoln car has very heavy doors that tend to swing back in ones face when opened. As I opened the door to enter my car, I held my hand out to stop it from coming back, but I was too late. The sharp corners of the door ripped through my skin, right under my eyeballs. It punctured my face very bad, and I was screaming in intense pain, clenching my eye. I was able to drive to the ER, but when I got there, they refused to treat me since I had no insurance at all.... (more)

Five years ago my husband and I retired a little early, sold our home putting everything in storage and enjoyed traveling around the country in our RV. After a few years we returned to the Pacific Northwest to volunteer our time at Oregon State Parks, Red Cross and other charitable groups purchasing a home three days prior to the stock market dropping 800 points (coincidentally on 9/11) and the following cascade of the exposure of financial manipulation, deceit, and greed exacerbated by the absence of adequate governmental oversight and... (more)

2 years ago, I had a tumor on the right side of my thyroid. After 2 ultrasounds and a biopsy, it was decided by my doctors that the right side of my thyroid needed to be removed. The left side was healthy, and the tumor turned out to be benign, so only the right side was removed. After the surgery, I still had abnormal thyroid labs so I went to an endocrinologist. She wanted to do some further testing to figure out why my thyroid still wasn’t functioning properly. (It was strange because my thyroid was overactive and yet I only had half.)... (more)

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A week before my lumpectomy, my surgeon called to tell me that my insurance company had refused to pay for anything connected with the breast cancer. She was stunned. I felt as if I'd been given a second death sentence. I decided I could pay for my own treatment, with retirement funds, and I did so. My surgeon offered a 50% discount on my surgury. Her assistant told me who else to call to arrange for private pay discounts. I spent the next week calling and making arrangements. ... (more)

This is my story: I am a California stay-at-home mom with 2 children, ages 5 and 8. Our family has health care coverage through my husband's employer. We have Kaiser Permanente medical coverage.We are lucky and yet we live with the knowledge that if my husband were to lose his job, we would also lose our affordable health care coverage. We live with the knowledge that we are vulnerable, that there is no safety net should we have a financial emergency. Is this freedom?

My girlfriend has a disease called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (with adrenal dysfunction)and she is 21 years old. If you don't know what that is(Don't worry, I didn't either) you can check out a website called dinet.org that seems to be base point for all affected. POTS (as it's called) tends be brought on by a serious viral infection that infiltrates the brain and/or the spinal chord thereby making her autonomic functions less affective, less balanced, and generally causing disarray to most major systems. It is most commonly... (more)

I am a psychologist. In the 1990's I had a practice in Bay City, Texas. I took private insurance. The HMO's and the PPO's began to move in to our area. I was offered a plan from the local physician-owned hospital where I would get paid $5,000. per month and I was to see patients for a MAXIMUM of 6 visits. Also I was required to hospitalize 5 patients per month. (For a psychologist, this means everyone with a slight substance abuse problem.) If I did not send them 5 patients per month, I had to pay back $1500. per month that I did not... (more)

I have two brief stories, one personal and one about a stranger whose life and death intersected mine in ways that reflect the fundamental flaws and amazing advantages of the healthcare system upon which we depend. He was a homeless man to whom healthcare was not accessible a week ago, though a life-threatening infection was developing and gaining strength in his body. Critically ill from that infection a week later, this man ended up in the emergency room of the hospital that employs me and provides the insurance that affords me treatment... (more)

I was just hospitalized in January. I needed emergency surgery to save my life. I thought I would be treated well since I have rather good health insurance. The entire time I was in the hospital, I was being asked on a daily basis when I was leaving. It was daily fight to get what I needed either from the hospital, or through the staff because of "insurance guidelines." One day, in frustration, I asked my attending physician: "if this is how people with insurance get treated, what would the hospital do with me if I didn't have... (more)

As a person who suffers from bipolar disorder, not taking my medication is not an option, nor is seeing a psychiatrist on a regular basis. I qualify for Medicaid, but it is such an insufficient program that often my health suffers as a result. My psychiatrist feels sorry for me and sees me almost for free because Medicaid will not come close to covering what he charges for each visit. I need to stay in therapy with a licensed psychologist as part of my continuing treatment, but Medicaid, in my home state of Alabama, will only cover... (more)