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 offered by employers.

For the last 19 years I have had annual MRI's and follow-up appointments with my neuro-oncologist. My prognosis is excellent and there is almost no chance of tumor re-growth. Unfortunately, this does not matter to health insurance companies. I am considered high risk and, absent the large-group health plan through my husband's employer, I am not able to get health insurance.

If legislation is not passed making health care more affordable, employers will either stop or drastically reduce the health care benefits offered to employees. This is a daunting concept. My seven year-old son has asthma which requires several daily medications. My husband and 10 year-old son also have health conditions requiring daily medications. If we were left to find health insurance on our own, my family would not be able to afford the premiums and we certainly would not be able to afford regular medical care.

My husband is a career firefighter/paramedic and we live on a fixed income. Last year his employer changed our health insurance plan to a "high deductible health plan" which carries low premiums but a $2,500 deductible. We feel fortunate to have health insurance, but still struggle to meet the high deductible. To complicate things, I lost my job earlier this year and my husband is trying to pick-up extra work to help make ends meet.

I believe we are only one example of a much larger group of people in the same situation. With every trip to the doctor and/or pharmacy I am thankful I was the one who lost my job and not my husband. Without his job, we have no insurance.

Making health care affordable and attainable, especially for those with pre-existing conditions, would benefit tax payers who end up paying for the under and/or uninsured. I cannot imagine my son having an asthma attack because we could not afford his daily medications.

Quality health care is not a privilege for those who can financially "afford" it. It is a basic necessity for all of us.