I am in jeopardy of loosing my healthcare if United Airlines goes bankrupt, after 25 years of working as a flight attendant! At 57 years old, no one wants to interview an 'older' person approaching 60 years old. I could potentially lose my home because of outrageous healthcare costs should UAL go under...scary times. We must get alternative healthcare for those who are not insured through their employers...afterall we are one of the few nations in the world that does not have affordable healthcare for the masses.

My name is Adam Lisman, I live in Akron, Ohio, and I am 25 years old. About 4 years ago I was attacked on the streets, slammed on my neck, and I fractured my t-12 vertebra. As a result of this I am paralyzed from my waist down. I rely on social security as a source of income, and medicaid and medicare to provide supplies that I require, such as catheters, pain killers, my wheelchair, and other things that are essential to my well being. I am also a diabetic so I take two types of insulin as well. I recently did my monthly run to the pharmacy,... (more)

I am 51 years young and would like to stay that way, I need to go to the Doctor and the Dentist and I can not go because I can't afford too, I have no Insurance and no job, I have been out of work for a year and I get food stamps, when I asked the people at the welfare office about a health card to go to the doctor and the dentist I was told that I had to have a disability or a child in my care, I also need to see the eye doctor and I feel desparate, I don't know what to do! I have a cyst on the back of my left hand that hurts and I need... (more)

Health Care is very important! I have been fortunate enough to have medical care after serving 7 years in the United States Air Force, but I still have to pay for dental. I listen to family members having severe coughs, all types of pain and when I ask why they don't go to the doctor, they say they cannot afford it. It saddens me to know that help is out there, but only for those that can afford it. Hopefully one day soon, this will not be the case.

I am a 47 year old single female and I have not health care insurance.

My husband, Paul, and I are just your average working-class citizens. We payed our bills on time, never spent more than we had, hoping to someday retire and enjoy our "golden years". Well, now Paul will be 65 and I am 63. Retirement isn't looking all that great, now. All because of the cost of health insurance. We have already come to grips with the fact that we probably won't have any dental and vision coverage. And, the policy we can afford restricts us to only "bare bones" medical care. We know we are not alone in... (more)

I have had to endure the last nine years without any type of medical or dental coverage because a) the companies that I was working for didn't offer plans b) I was working as a temp employee so the companies wouldn't have to offer health care and save themselves money c) the cost of the plans to purchase on my own were too high and we were already without food and necessities on many occasions. I have allowed my personal health to deteriorate for the sake of being able to provide food for my children as a single mom. Companies utilize... (more)

My father passed away two years ago at the age of 90. At the time of his death he had tens of thousands of dollars in doctor and hospital bills, even though he had worked hard and scrimped all his life. Health care costs must be reformed.

I am the owner of a small business. Our premiums just went up 45%!!! I cannot afford to continue this coverage for my employees. We need affordable health care NOW!!!

I am a mother of 2, a wife, a full time student, and a full time worker. We applied for Ohio health care, medicaid, because my hours have been cut at work and we can no longer aford the company health care plan. My husband has MS, which has affected his ability to work outside of the home. The state denied our family because they said that we were over the 90% federal poverty level. Sir, I bring home about $350.00 every two weeks for a family of four- my family needs coverage. I don't want to be on medicaid, I am in school now to better... (more)

I have a dtr who served in the military for nine (9) years for this country. Her Veteran's benefits are not the best. She can only get generic meds when what she needs is the original. Please help this country to treat all people well regarding health issues.

Dear Mr. President, My daughter had a number of health problems. When she graduated from high school, she had hopes to go to college, but she found that she was in too much pain, and had to leave. At which time our insurance no longer covered her, because she was no longer a minor, and not in college. But her "pre-existing conditions" would not allow her to be covered by an employer insurance. She was able to go on to disabilities, but I can imagine that this happens to many young people: what do you do when your parents have... (more)

I have not had health insurance since 1990. It has just been too expensive. So, I try not to get sick but when I did (I did not even stay in the hospital) and the bill was $5,000. So, now I even try to stay away from emergency rooms. The Dentist said it would be close to $3,000 to fix my teeth and so I paid $300 each time I went and after the second time, I did not go back. I have not seen other medical specialists in years and probably won't. I hope your reform does something to help those who do work and still can't afford it. Thanks.

i am a kidney transplant patient who takes imniosuppresants to maintain good health.i only get $1010 from social security and these are tier 4 drugs. They cost approx 600 a month in co pay. how can a person liver and pay these costs without capable family to help. What if family falls on hard times or dies? Why would the government cover the kidney transplant yet the drugs to keep healthy are so cost prohibitive the average person cant afford them?Why cant these drugs be negotiated down since the transplant population is small. lowering these... (more)

I am 27 years old and have not had health care since I was 20 years old. If I am sick, I can not go to the doctor, I can not get a prescription. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression at a young age and had to ween myself off of the medication at 20 years old because I could not afford it anymore. I have dealt with these problems for several years now and have learned to cope in other ways. It is silly to think that someone my age can not live a normal life because I can not afford to. What happens if I am in an accident and end up in the... (more)

I have been an insulin dependent diabetic for 18 years and recently my hours at work have been cut so I can't afford all of my insulin. I take 3 different insulins and two of them are in the $100 range. As of right now I can only afford 2 of them so now I have to go without. The worst part is that my insurance doesn't pay a great deal for them so I have to pay the majority for them. I wish that medicine companies could come up with a generic insulin for those of us that can't afford it.

I am currently in law school and I can only afford very expensive health care that doesn't cover any medicine or regular doctors visits. My husband lost his job in August 08 and we have not been able to get him health care since. We are healthy young people, yet we are unable to afford insurance.

Although I am covered by Medicare and a supplemental health care policy, I do know people who have no coverage. I feel a policy similar to Medicare offered to those without coverage would be ideal. I have not had any problelms with this coverage, and feel others would benefit from it, too.

I work a low paying job where I am treated very poorly. I can make what I make at this job anywhere else I may apply. Why do I not leave? Heath care is free. I cannot leave because I need the health care benefits. Even if I were to get a better paying job, I may be without health care for up to one year. I would not be able to afford private insurance on my own. I know mamy Europeans, and they all think our health care system is a joke, and they ask how we can possibly live the way we do. Also, dental care is usually left out of health care... (more)

I am an HR Manager for a non-profit mental health org who has been lucky to be able to continue to afford good healthcare for our staff. However, I am in Ohio and am not sure how long I can continue to do this. What makes me angry is rec'g an EOB for self for a surgery knee replacement and seeing a charge of $12,000 become a pay-out to a provider of less 50% .....I am lucky to recieve a write off ...I have healthcare ...but what poor man/woman receives and is required to pay entire bill of $12K ...the on with no insurance ....how is that... (more)