As a child of a single mother, I watched my mom bankrupted for life because of chronic health problems. She worked hard all her life, but never had a chance because of her medical bills. Now, as a cancer survivor myself, I know that if anything happens to my husband's job or his benefits, we could be ruined just like my mom. The worst thing is, there's nothing we can do! Nobody can save enough to stave off a medical crisis - not with the insane costs of treatment & drugs! Something has to be done... please.

The mill my nephew has worked in all his life is closing (he is 52 yrs old). In order to have insurance he has to pay over 500.00 per month for 2 months and then it will drop to l50.00 for a year. After that it goes back up to over 500.00 per month just to cover him. He has some pre-existing conditions so it will make it hard for him to be accepted in alot of the insurance options.

i have been without health insurance for years. my 2 children one in college and one in high school are without too! i have a full time job as a manager but cant afford health insurance im a single parent! something needs to be done so we can afford to have it!

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... (more)

We are lucky. We have good insurance. But the outrageous costs of the system are obvious. Last year, while returning from New York, my wife developed chest pains, and was taken by ambulance to a hospital in East Stroudsburg, PA. It turned out to be nothing but severe GERD. But the charges for her stay there came to SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. Since the hospital and staff were preferred providers, they accepted a smaller amount, still in the thousands, from Highmark Blue Shield. BUT IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS, JUST THE SAME. It cost... (more)

As a pastor I often have contact with people in distress. Just yesterday I spoke with a young woman battling several psychological problems that complicate all aspects of her life. She is off her medication because she cannot afford it. Consequently, she finds herself presently in a psychiatric ward, unable to cope with daily life. Beside the tragic personal cost to her and her loved ones there is the economic expense of inpatient care that could be averted by a more compassionate and comprehensive health care system. Please, President... (more)

As a young writer in Colorado, my small employer did not offer insurance. Even after the state legislature passed a law allowing small newspapers to band together to get group health insurance, no insurer would offer coverage. It was fine. I was young and healthy. Until a week before I was set to leave Colorado for a job in Pennsylvania with benefits. I fell seriously ill and had to visit the emergency room. I racked up a huge bill: more than $2,000, which took years to pay off.

I have lost my job January 2009. My family does not have health care at all. It took me several options to get some for my 8 year old daughter. She is covered now after a fight with the PA Chip program. I am greatful for this. Now I still do not have a job or insurance for my spouse. We are on the waiting list for more help from the goverment once additional funds are found from Adult basic with Blue Cross of Nepa. I have not had a yearly OB check up, and I am having problems, pay for all Medications, for my self and now can not get... (more)

Being a physician for almost three decades I have a few simple suggestions 1-Cut cost by preventing fraud in healthcare 2-Medical staff paid incentives for good work 3-Close medicare loopholes-everything computerized. 4-avoid unnecessary procedures and very expensive equipment when there are alternative and cheap equipment is available 5-Accountability of all including administrative staff 6 -make some essential drugs very affordable

I have Diabetes need blood work and can't get it done because I have no Health Care. I have not worked since 2005 because I am 59 years old and can't get a job because I have had two surgeries done on my shoulder the doctor placed restrictions on what I can do and no one wants to hire me.

I am a nurse anesthetist capable of paying for my own health care (even though the price keeps going up) However the copays are killing my 30 yr old daughter, her husband & infant son. I have to give them money to meet the rising costs. If not for me they would have to go without medical care or medicines. They both work full time for small companies. My boyfriend has worked 8 years for a small restaurant without health care. Please stand with President Obama for real health care reform. Thank you!!!!

I am uninsured. I grew up to be a shipbuilder. They built ships on the Delaware River for 300+ years. I was working in a mailroom shipping phone books. Had tried college but was sick of being in school. The business cycle went bad and I was laid off. Through the unemployment office there was a program to teach shipbuilding skills, welding, burning, fitting and such through a federal CETA program. I went for it. I became a shipfitter, a carpenter of steel. I was a good fitter, I learned all of the skills. 3rd class, 2nd, 1st class and later... (more)

I'm involved with a number of community organizations and meet people who have little or no access to health care. These people end up in the hospital emergency room where they receive episodic care rather than consistent care that could prevent health problems. We don't have a health care system in this country--- there is no "system" to it!!!!

I have to first let President Obama know that I love him. And if the health care proposal passes, I will then believe he should be cannonized! I have no health insurance. I am one of the "hangers on" so to speak. By that I mean that if some major illness should strike, I will lose everything. This is not my fault. My husband retired several years ago and his union (Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen) did not continue a family plan. Oh you had the option to pay on your own, but we couldn't afford about $700 to $800 per month. Now my... (more)

As someone working in the public health arena I am keenly aware of the disparities in health care for those who need it most but frequently receive the least. It's time for a change.

Hospitals are so expensive and the industry has gone so far astray from the Hippocratic Oath, that I have taken my health care into my own hands. I hope that when my day comes to die, I will have achieved what I came here to do, and that my death will be far from tubes, far from cold doctors and insurance vultures . . . perhaps under a blue sky in the middle of a desert at sunset. That would be just fine.

I fore go having tests done because I can't pay the 20% co pay. Such as MRI to dianose back pain. Also refused to have surgery on spine-co pay on a 30 thousand dollar surgery and hospital costs. I'd loose my home.

My husband and I have worked all our lives since age 14, we are in our late 50's and 60's we have no health care. I have osteoprosis, Osteoarithis, a cholestrol issue. My husband has high blood pressure. We cannot afford our medication. I am out of work due to a car accident, (not my fault). My husband was laid off as a Printer/Pressman in March 2009 He has over 20 years experience. We have medical and dental problems. We do what we can with diet and exercise, but this is very frightening. We can not afford any of the ricidilous... (more)

I have Aetna Insurance through my employer. I went for an annual visit, and had bloodwork done. I paid my copay for the office visit and received a bill for bloodwork and the unpaid portion of my doctor visit. I keep a close watch on my bills and only spend what I can afford. It scares me to think what would happen if I became ill and needed hospitalization.

I recently had outpatient surgery. I recall a TV commercial about a woman who had an asthma attack and spent 7 days in the hospital her total cost was $18,000 I spent 7hours at a cost of 18,000. Thank God my employment insurance cover the charges.I feel sorry for those without affordable insurance. A public option is call for.