I am a 56 year old woman, small business owner, and pay $608 per month for health insurance. I am grateful that I have insurance. My friend found a lump in her breast and has been referred for a biopsy. She has a high deductible policy (so she can afford the premiums), and has just discovered that a breast biopsy may cost at much as $9000, for which she will be on the hook for at least half of that. She is actually questioning whether or not she should have the biopsy, since she doesn't know now she can pay the bills with her income. She works full-time (or 32 hours now...her company cut back her hours due to the economy), has always been self-supporting. She rents an apartment, drives a 20 year old car, doesn't eat out, and is very frugal with her money. It makes me angry, sad and disgusted that she has to even think about whether her life is worth the cost she will have to pay. If she does have breast cancer, it is probably quite curable WITH TREATMENT! If our representatives don't pass some kind of public option in a health care reform bill, I will guarantee my activism in helping to elect people who actually care about the lives of those they represent. There is no valid excuse for this inaction. We are in a perfect position to pass this reform, but we all need to get behind President Obama's plan and get it done!