A WW II vet, I've just had cataract surgery on both eyes and now can drive safely rather than needing help to get about. My wife has had two hip replaced to end months of pain. We are grateful for Medicare's making these possible for retirees like us who would be unable to afford payment for such surgeries. What better use is there for U.S. tax dollars?

Health Care should be a service to ALL Americans. Rising costs of prescription drugs are outragous. Health care reform is a great step to helping Americans feel like they matter and gives them a sense of being.

Part of health care reform needs to contain the right to choose your doctor and where you want to be treated. My daughter is fortunate that my husband's insurance allowed her access to UW Childrens Hospital for her surgery instead of the local facility that is not as experienced with pediatric care!

I am a volunteer reading tutor for a 48 year-old man who cannot read. Often he is unable to concentrate on our lesson because he is in so much pain from his infected teeth. I asked him why he didn't see a dentist. He said he had seen the dentist and was told his teeth must come out and he needs false teeth, but that would cost $3000 and he doesn't have the money. A single-payer health care plan that eliminates the excessive profits of insurance companies is needed. No one should have to suffer like that.

I just graduated from college and need to find quality, affordable health care. I've been researching my options, and it seems like I won't be able to find a plan that offers the coverage I need within my price range. I'm really concerned about the adults in my life who can't afford quality health care. I'm especially worried about my mom and my supervisor at work. These women, who are in their 50's, have worked hard to provide for themselves and their families for years and years, and still aren't able to afford quality health care. Am I... (more)

As a newly retired teacher who still owes the federal government over $29,000 in financial aid my husband and I are inches away from being financially ruined by another heart attack(my husband has had 2) or stroke(I've had 2). I gave alot teaching students with emotional and behaviorally disturbed children. I always thought I'd have that loan paid off and be able to afford health care with no worries. I don't know how we will pay cost of living expenses if one of us gets very ill. This isn't the saddest story you'll hear, but we need less... (more)

My husband and I are self employed and have been for 33 years. Being self employed forces us to buy our own insurance. We pay over $600 a month with a deductible of $5800 a year. Luckily, we are healthy people. The cost goes up every 6 months. I feel like they take advantage of us because we have no other options. We need help!

I was laid off from a global corporation in December 2008. I was the Health Benefits Manager. I know how US-based corporations are struggling with health care costs: in the US the average health care cost per employee was over $8,000 per year. At our Canadian-based facilities it was less than $3,000 per year, including the government taxes, and, in Mexico, it was less then $2,000 per year. As a former employee paying for COBRA prior to ARRA, I was paying nearly $600 per month for coverage. Even with this coverage, I am responsible for... (more)

President Obama. I am 62 and the oldest member of my family. I lost my Mother, Father, and younger sister all to medical problems which could have been prevented and cured with insurance. All of them put off medical care they couldn't afford until they were terminal and then qualified for medicare. Millions in this country have died for the sanee reson. Health care should be a right for every American, with emphasis on prevention to offset the catostropic costs to treat terminal diseases. My husband and I live on less than 35,000 a year, and... (more)

I have recently lost my job like many others to the plant I worked at for eleven years closing. I am one of the lucky ones though. My husband has a good job and we switched to his insurance. When I first started my job I never paid for insurance. When you signed your paper work and worked your first day you had insurance. It was good insurance I didn't really have to worry about much of any thing. When the company I work for mergered with another that is when we had to start paying for our insurance. I started that job when I was eighteen so I... (more)

While I am employed by a health care organization, I have been in the past self employed and had to provide my own healthcare. I have a grandchild who is now 2 1/2 who is covered by Badger Care through the state of Wisconsin. Gavin has Von WIllebrand's disease which is a disorder effecting the inability of his blood to clot, when he is bruised or gets cut he has to immediately have the "factor" injected so he does not continue to bleed causing serious issues. Gavin's pediatric team has stated that he is most fortunate to have this... (more)

I am a struggling college student going to an amazing liberal arts college in Wisconsin. My mother was laid off from her teaching job, and now works part time as a substitute teacher. We have to pay a lot of money for our health insurance, just because I have illnesses that need to be kept under close watch. Being in close quarters with many other ill college students means that I get sick very often because of a poor immune system, so I wind up with medical bills I cannot afford to pay, and neither can my single mom. I have some medical bills... (more)

My husband and I had to file bankruptcy this year because I had to spend a month in the hospital. Even with the insurance coverage we had, we were simply unable to get out from under the medical bills.

Making a long story short: Had I lived at that time in the United States, I would be childless. Instead, I was living in Germany, could get the medical care I needed on a reliable basis and - from 3 (naturally achieved) pregnancies - I have 2 wonderful children. One is now a physician and delivers babies and the other is a teacher and teaches them.

I have been sick for over a year and accumulated thousands of dollars in hospital and Doctor's bills. I thank God most of my bills have been covered by health insurance coverage through my husband's former employer provided insurance (Chrysler). Upon retiring we were told that his benefit coverage would not change. But because of the economy and the finacial stability of the company our benefits have changed. I thank God that President Obama and his Staff are working so hard to reform health care. My family is praying for your success.... (more)

As a nation and with all the advances in technology, millions of people can not afford to go to the doctor. There is no preventive care, and people are dying because they can't afford a certain medical procedures. Some people have had medical procedures and they can't pay the cost of it and lose their homes, everything they have worked for is gone. Everyone should have the same insurance as our elected officials. The gap between those who have and those who have not is widening by the minute. The bottom line is everyone in this nation should... (more)

I am a self-employed, recently divorced single parent responsible for the care of two college-aged children. My oldest is an insulin-dependent diabetic in excellent health, but it costs money to keep him that way. Between the cost of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses (because of our plan's high deductible--$5800/yr), I devote a quarter of my family budget to health care. Add college costs in, and the burden becomes close to unbearable. I used to consider myself a member of the middle class. Now I'm just in the surviving class.

My sister was going through 2 "HIGH RISK" Pregnancies she had to be flown to a Specialized Hospital that deals with Preemies fourtunately my Niece is now 8 and her sister is now 2- Unfoutunately their Insurance Company successfully Weaseled their way out of paying the bill my sister, her husband were in debt for quite sometime because of the Insurance Companies unethical practices. On a more personal level us citizens have Good Faith Insurance we pay the monthly premium but , when it comes time for these Companies to pay they always... (more)

I have thyroid problems and the insurance at my job is only accidental and does not cover it. I cant afford other insurance.I do not qualify for aid, unless I have a baby or find a old person to take care of.So I haven't been able to get checked or take my pills in the last 6 years. They granish my pay check every time you turn around for hospital bills which puts me barely with enough money to live on. I haven't enough been able to get my blood pressure pills.

After my husband died some ten years ago and even before when he could not work because he was to ill, I had to fall back on Tricare and a Tricare supplement. The one thing I found out is that clinics and physicians do not have to accept Tricare. I do wish this was changed to a mandatory acceptance if they choose to provide fore Medicare and accept Medicare payments. I feel that the Tricare standard is an excellent form of Health care and perhaps we should modle a Health Care Reform after it. I did fight many times and have to keep... (more)