I am a 50 year old, college educated, middle class woman, who has lived without health insurance for over 12 years. My father died of a heart attack at 52; so I am desperate for health insurance.

My story is not one of extreme tragedy, but rather one of ongoing stress and fear, of a reduced quality of life and of clear recognition of impending ruin should I continue much longer without health insurance.

I work for a nonprofit, which does not have the resources to provide health insurance. I have researched my options and cannot find a single insurance plan that is even close to affordable for someone of my income. There is no way to pay the lowest premium, while still paying for rent, utilities and food. Even if I could find an affordable plan, sustainability would be a major issue should I experience a health crisis because, in order to pay the deductible, I would have to cancel the insurance for a while and then reapply.

Let me tell you what it is like to live without health coverage. I have not had a full check up in years. In fact, I do not go to the doctor unless I absolutely have no other choice--I do my best to treat myself if I am sick or injured. On those occasions when I have had to see a doctor, I have put it off for days, hoping the problem would go away. I have not had a full blood test since I was in my 30's, even though I am at risk of high cholesterol. I have been screened for cancer twice in the past decade. There isn't much point, since I could not afford to treat it. If I should develop an undiagnosed medical problem, I would need to know the cost of testing and then of treatment before I could undergo it. I would have to charge the expense to my credit card. If the test was not conclusive, I would not be able to afford a battery of tests and would thus remain undiagnosed. I have not needed surgery for anything yet, but for me all surgery is elective. I don't even want to think about what would happen if I were to require hospitalization or emergency care.

I am an intelligent woman. I know the risks I am living with, but when you don't have the funds to pay for health care, it limits you tremendously. I know others who are uninsured, and they live exactly the same way as I. You nickle and dime your own health and pray that you are okay. And you worry constantly.

No, I don't have a heartbreaking story. There are many, many people who are much worse off than I. But I know that I am one medical crisis away from poverty, and it's tremendously upsetting. I know that my risk of illness will increase annually as I age and that I could very likely already have an undiagnosed condition that is quietly worsening as I go without medical care.

I work hard. I pay my bills. I contribute to the good of our society. All I want is the opportunity to purchase insurance at a price I can afford. Given that the private insurance premiums are so far out of reach, I believe that a public option is the only one that can help uninsured working people like me.