My Sister and her family have no health care. She has taken to suturing her deep cuts with super glue; they can't afford stitches. She obtains prescriptions for her dogs from the vetinarian, so that she can have less-expensive antibiotics.

I have been a registered nurse for 15 years. I have worked in nearly every specialty of nursing. What has caused the ballooning healthcare bill is managed care and large healthcare conglomerates, in my opinion. No longer do hospitals share expensive equipment like MRI machines and CT scanners. Everyone has to have the latest technology to maintain their "market share." It used to be hospitals were places people went when they were seriously ill and they stayed there until they were sufficiently recovered to function again at... (more)

I am a Nurse I visit with low income elderly people and it is unbelievable to me the health conditions that these people have that could have been prevented had they gone to a Doctor, but because there were no resources available or they were so concerned about the cost they would not see a Doctor. I work 2 jobs as a Nurse because my husband has been laid off and ready to lose his health insurance, my income is what is saving us right now and I will have to insure him on my health plan which I really can't afford. I had a stroke in my right... (more)

My mother had a friend who was in college. When she became ill, she chose not to go to the doctor due to to the cost, and lack of health insurance. I had a friend who also had no health insurance and became ill. They both died as a result. Is this acceptable in the US?

I am working full time and cannot afford to get health benefits for my family. It is just way too expensive and would really like universal healthcare for everyone.

I live abroad working for the USG, I can get quality health care at a fraction of the cost. At one point, a co-worker who had just arrived from the states, and I were talking about the high cost of health insurance and how he couldnt afford it and was one appendix bursting away from bankruptcy. Low and behold, his appendix burst that night and he was able to have it operated for under $4000, not even close to breaking the bank. Health care costs are out of control to the point that I am happy to be living abroad where I can afford excellent... (more)

I am on social security and have to take alot of med.s for my heart.I was so happy when we got rx coverage. Then I found out that I would only be covered for about 6 months on my pill's.Then for that coverage I payed around $4.00 a month now it's $29.80.I have figured out how to make this work you just take your pill's every other day.If we as a nation had good health care maybe someday I can not only afford my pill's and rx. coverage but I also might be able to take all my pill's.

My husband and I have a home business. We must pay very high costs to have some coverage, even with a $5000 deductible. We also have to carry the cost of our college graduate daughter who has a preexisting condition. These costs are a burden to us as we need to inject capital in our business, but cannot. We look forward to change, a just system that allows all people to have adequate coverage. Go for it!

My wife and I are both retired on Social Security as our only income. Medicare premiums that keep rising and Medicare Advantage premiums that keep rising as well as the cost of drugs that are mostly inaffordable make it very difficult for us to just get by from month to month. As your supporters for president we count on you to keep our medicare costs down and our social security benefits safe during future years. Thanks for caring about we seniors who are depending on you.

As a Registered Nurse working in both a clinic and hospital setting, I have seen first hand patients falling through the cracks and choosing food and shelter for their families over ongoing health care when insurance is lost due to work force reductions. This is occurring in young families as well as senior citizens. Lives and quality of life hang in the balance. Our system is accessible to only a small portion of our fellow citizens. Too many people cannot access the medical resources we have. It is very difficult to be in a helping... (more)

I have epilepsy, which has greatly affected my health care costs and insurability since childhood. Thankfully, I am currently insured through my husband's policy. If I wasn't, we would be faced with paying $1,000 a month in prescriptions alone.

As a health care provider, I see patients denied for education programs, such as Asthma Education. This education could help them keep themselves healthy and understand thier condition, so better to control it. These people then have flare ups of thier disease and may need emergency treatment, even hospitalization. Please help pass reform to help people stay healthy, rather than only treating people that become ill. Its crazy to cover an emergency visit, but not the education to prevent the emergency!

i think goernment is beoming much too big daddy....let us fail and get back on our feet you and your plans scare me and make me want to move very very far aawaay. lynndvv

I'm fortunate to have good medical coverage, however our health care system does not address many of the true issues of the health & causes of diseases in our nation. If you or members of your staff have read "The China Study" by Campbell, it becomes clear that our affluent diet is killing us. The other health care issue not spoken of is our dental care system. Far too costly for many of our middle class and out of reach for our poor.

Dear President Obama, This year the cost to insure our family of four will cost $15,456 (more than our annual mortgage payment including tax and ins.) We are afraid not to have it if something happens; my being a cancer survivor heightens our fear. We feel incredibly blessed to be able to pay this bill even though it can be a struggle since we are in a season business. I think of the "working poor" families who have no insurance at all and wonder what their fears might be like. I hope true insurance reform will take place in... (more)

I am able to receive Minnesota Care for myself and my son but my husband has nothing. If he were to ever sick or hurt on the job it would be very hard to cover the cost of the bills. He does not make enough money to pay for his health care costs through his job so therefore he is not eligible for MN Care. Please do something about the high costs of health care. Thank You

I am a husband and the father of three beautiful children. Prior to Oct. 2007 we were all getting our health ins. through the state of Minnesota which was high quality, LOW STRESS coverage. This was about the time that my home business started to show some small profits. This should have been a good thing but it has done nothing but make our lives more complicated and has actually lowered our quality of life. There are many days that I wish we were making less money so that we could keep quality health care. As soon as I made a profit we... (more)

When our daughter's husband was laid off from his job as a framing supervisor, insurance for their family ended. Although my daughter could get health care at her workplace, it took a good share of her take home pay to cover her husband and two children, so he went without insurance until he found another job. Luckily he had no serious injuries or illness during that time.

President Obama:I applaud all that you try to do-both for our economy & for the health care situation,but you need to know that "they" are not letting you know what is REALLY happening as far as how insurance companies,mortgage companies,& yes,even how our own IRS is dealing with us.I have been on a feeding tube for over a year now,& my husband, Warren, is diabetic, so we both have many medical expenses.I'm retired,started on Medicare,& have health insurance for which we struggle monthly to pay the premium(for fear of... (more)

I don't have health insurance. I haven't had it for years. As an American Citizen, right now I have this right. I don't want to pay for my health care insurance.. and if I don't want to pay for my own health insurance, I sure the hell don't want to pay for yours. I have PERSONAL RESPONSIBLITY and take care of myself and don't look towards government to take care of myself. After the new Health Care Reform passes, I will be fined.. because it will be cheaper than paying 13% of my wages. After this government take over of health care... (more)