My husband and I have had to move to a very high deductable health plan (major medical) to be able to afford the monthly premium. Thus, we freqently put off going to see a doctor, which is often unwise.

Our wonderful caregiver for my husband( who suffers from Parkinson's disease), cannot afford healthcare for herself.

I belong to a HMO, Group Health, of Seattle. I have been completely pleased with their services. I see a HMO as a kind of model for what health care can be - from prevention of health problems to care of problems when they occur.

If it weren't for my wife's (Golden Microsoft benefits) we'd be up the creek since my University employer does not cover her or the kids. It's long since time the American people work together; Medicare's very low administrative costs are a great example of what we can do when we work together. For my Congressional reps: Obama's the best American leader I've seen in years, and his priorities of health care, the environment and education are spot on. If you vote against his agenda on these items , I WILL VOTE AGAINST YOU.

I'm a software entrepreneur who has seen how the lack of a rational health insurance system in America is hurting people, and hurting our economy. Instead of everyone feeling free to move jobs, move up, and do the most good they can -- instead, they live in fear of losing their heath insurance. A rational, national health insurance system would be an economic boon - increasing worker mobility and giving people the confidence to make employment choices, without worrying about getting stranded without health care. Let's stop wasting the... (more)

My families health care is so bad, that I am sure If I were to get cancer or something else bad i would have to choose between my family going broke or just not getting treatment. And I am not poor, we are upper middle class But without 100 grand in the bank we wouild be screwed. I belive we need single payer health care now before people start having to choose wheather or not to get Health care. Thanks Don Dahl

I have Insurance as a small business. i am paying 1200.00 my wife is sick and I can not go to Doctor because I can not afford to pay 1000.oo Deductible. We are living in pain. Mr President please help us.

If it were not for the miracles of health care in this country, I would have been blind adn crippled all of my life. I had a corneal transplant operation at age six, just in time to go to first grade adn learn to read. My corneas had been damaged by oxygen in the incubator that kep me alive as a three pound preemie. At eleven I was discovered to have idiopathic avascular necrosis of the femur. I was in bed for four years, following which I developed arthritis in the malformed joint. I had decades of pain. Then J and J developed an... (more)

Single-payer, like Congress has given itself at taxpayer expense is the only way to go. I am 81 years old and now pay $96 for medicare AND $300 more per month for employer furnished retiree health insurance which pays for prescriptions and 80% of what Medicare does not pay, but nothing if Medicare does not cover the treatment. This is over 13% of my gross income; in fact, it is over 6 times what I paid for income tax last year. I would welcome a small tax increase which would enable me to drop the medigap policy and save money. As your... (more)

I am a social worker , I have worked with people in crisis: Suicide ideation, and in some cases borderline personality disorders. The Agency I worked at was a non profit, and helped an indigent population. Washington State had shifted it reimbursment to MHC from fee based to managed care, which overseen by a major Insurance Company. Clients were the given a tier group based on the amount of need. Story. Client slashes throat , has a long history of self harm which includes drinking draino, writs slashing and general cutting . Diagnosis:... (more)

As a college student, I have been fortunate enough to receive quality healthcare coverage my entire life from a plan negotiated by the large company for which my mother works. Over this past year, I have had to make a few more unexpected trips to the emergency room that average, and, after seeing the initial hospital bills, have been shocked at the cost of even basic treatments. The ambulance rides alone have totaled upwards of $700. I can't even begin to imagine the financial burden such costs would bare on the uninsured, underinsured, and... (more)

I believe everyone has the right to the best health care possible all at the same price, at a price every citizen can afford.

There are 4 doctors in our family and we all support President Obama's health care reforms.

HM3/USN/USMC 1st Marines in Viet Nam 1966 PA-C/Medex U of Washington 1971-1989 Clinical Assoc U of Wah. Dept Family Med/WAMI 1972-79

My mother came from Mexico to America to follow what she percieved was the "Land of Opportunity." She married, had children and became a citizen. She owned her own Restaurants and a home and was a very sweet woman. Unfortunately, health care costs were very high, she lacked health education and she rarely seen a doctor. She had experienced discrimination early on in America and her Spanish accent, she felt, was a hinderance. In 1997 she was having fainting spells. I convinced her to go to the community health clinic, since they... (more)

I was teaching English in China and became ill with appendicitis. Because Chinese doctors didn't want to operate, I eventually returned to the US. I explained my case at the emergency room of my hometown, Port Angeles, WA, the day I returned. I didn't have insurance because I left my job overseas. The doctors said it wasn't critical and sent me home. I was readmitted after my initial visit due to pain and dehydration and it was still determined that my appendicitis was not severe enough to merit operation. In the meantime, I started... (more)

Last year as the recession was deepening my father decided to retire rather than risk losing his retirement income. He was soon covered by Medicare due to his age, but my mother who had health care through my father's employer is younger than him and no longer has any insurance because the rates are extremely high and they are on a fixed income. My grandmother died of heart failure at about the same age as my mother is now, so we are all very concerned that she has no health coverage, but have no other option than to wait until she gets old... (more)

Evidence-based clinical preventive services provide the best ROI in reducing health care costs while extending healthy life AND strengthening our workforce. Translating new neuroscience coupled with methods to increase compliance with these high-value and inexpensive interventions is essential.

As an owner of a small company, the rise in health care insurance is cause for great concern each year, however, we have a longstanding belief that no one should be without health care insurance. While we pay for 90% of the premium for our employees, when the cost to us goes up 15-25% each year, we find ourselves scrambling to provide the most coverage with the best flexibility, while containing costs as much as we can. For small companies with the desire to provide for their employees, it's a constant dilemma.

Currently I am without health care being laid off from my last temp position. Funny all the years I worked fulltime I had coverage. Several years ago I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer which led to a mascetomy. Without proper health coverage I have not been able to have reconstruct surgery which has altered my daily life. Nor have I been able to get the proper prescriptions to take or have follow up care. Have you ever priced a cancer drug prescription without insurance? Now I have a possible growth in my chest though without insurance... (more)