I get the impression from many of those against a government nationwide health care system, that "they" think it can't happen to them. Oh, they are so wrong.

My husband, Jim, and myself, worked in corporate white collar jobs most of our lives, making a combined income of $100K to $200K most years. We always had corporate benefits, and really never much thought about the cost of health care. Our insurance always took care of it.

In 2001, when I was 51, I was layed off from my corporate job. In 2007, when my husband was 50, he was laid off from his corporate job. I am convinced that there is a Human Resources unwritten recomendation in most companies that employees over 50 cost too much in Health Benefits, get rid of them. My Husband Jim's COBRA Benefits for the both of us in 2008 were $860 a month. There was no way that we could afford that, and there was no options or flexibility. It was $860 a month, or too bad so sad.

Jim was diagosed as a Type II Diabetic in 1992. He is not on insulin, and never has been, and in the last 2 years he has lost over 60 pounds to help control his diabetes. The insurance to insure him is out of control, because he has a pre existing condition, is now 52, and can only get insurance if he works for a corporation that offers them. All of his jobs have been temp jobs or contract jobs, and he has no insurance.

I am now 59, I am an appraiser (real estate), I work 80 hours of work, and cannot afford to be sick. I work very hard to pay for a catastrophic insurance policy that costs $350 a month and covers maybe 30% of any hospital charges. I just received a bill from our doctors for $977 for visits for bronchitis that Jim and I both had.

I don't know what will happen to us. I am so upset with our country. People think they will continue to have medical coverage, and they are so wrong. Currently I have serious dental problems, but cannot afford to have them fixed. Maybe if I could sell my house.

Jim and I are considering moving to Mexico in order to get health and dental care. We don't believe we will have any choice.

I am not the poor, I am not uneducated, I have completed Grad School, I have worked (and am still working) my whole life, I have always paid my taxes, raised my children to be good citizens and good people, and contributed to this economy and this country - I am an older US citizen that Congress discriminates against, and wants to pretend doesn't exist.

I am the new white, educated, faceless sick,
dying and poor.

I am an example of what is happening to America.