Health care costs have been so high that health maintenance has been unacessible to me at various times. When I lived in Phoenix, AZ, I worked at a private school as adjunct faculty. The school did not pay health benefits to adjunct faculty, and didn't pay enough salary to afford it. I broke my leg and had to forego any health care because at that time the state of Arizona did not have a safety net for American citizens but it would pay all expenses for illegal immigrants. I later ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and a whopping hospital... (more)

My wife and are Hurricane Katrina Survivors. During katrina, my wife was underdoing treatment for her breast cancer. She had a mascetomy and was still taking her chemo treatments when katrina came. Katina destoryed our house and cost me my job because my company was destroyed during katrina. When are biggest worries should have been finding a place to live and work, it was making sure my wife would not lose her health insurance from her job. In the end, God sought to bless us by her not losing her insurance (caring for handicapped... (more)

i have a mental difficulty that requires various meds. before the VA helped me to level out and get sane, my life was a spiral downwards. in and out of hospitals. buy food or buy meds?

My daughter's baby was born with a rare congenital disorder. Although she is covered by medicaid until she is one year old; afterwards she may not get the treatment she needs. It is vital for her safety that healthcare reform is passed by the congress

My son is 25 years old, works part time, is the main caregiver to his 22 month old son, and has no health insurance. He has been able to get health insurance for my grandson based on low income, but my son cannot afford to pay for his own health insurance. He is self-employed. My son has had a bad cough for almost 2 months and cannot afford to go to the doctor. He is usually fairly healthy, but preventative health care is vital to stay healthy and take care of his young son. We help where we can, but he should not have to make decisions... (more)

In October of 2000 I had some heart problems and needed open heart surgery. I was working at a good job and making good money, but had no insurance and certainly could not afford nearly $100,000 to save my own life. Money almost made the difference of life or death in my case. In my case the doctors went ahead and saved my life knowing I did not have insurance or enough money to pay for saving my own life and the hospital forgave a large part of my bill. For a short period before I had life saving surgery I was unsure if they would save me or... (more)

I want this country to have for every American citizen health care. I, personally, am willing to pay a little more tax to achieve this. I have family and friends who have lost their job and have no health care, my daughter included. While my husband and I have health care, it is very costly. The premium continues to go up. It seems like with the premium,copay, and 10% share for lab, etc, we pay as much as our insurance company. I would like a choice of a single payer/public health care. My priorities are health care, JOBS, energy and... (more)

Can't live within means of my income with when my health care cost are so high. Every month is a struggle just to live with the basics once the bills are paid.

my mother lived in France, she had ovarian cancer, and Altheimer's , she was reimbursed 100 per cent for all care and medecine and nursing home, etc, when shed passed away in 1995 I did not have to pay one penny , who says what americans call " socialized medecine does not work??? why are we so afraid of that work,, the canadians have the same systems, and nobody lacks of beeing properly taken care of,, so Congress please listen to President Obama . Why does a doctor charges me 180.00 dollars, for barely 15minutes of consultations, when... (more)

My wife and were both unemployed, my employer closed their business and my wife was laid off. Unemployment was very helpful but would not cover our health insurance needs. I am a diabetic and I am not able to afford my medication. I have since found employment but it will take awhile to be able to afford my health insurance, I don't think I can afford my wives. What is one to do when resident aliens can get medical attention that my wife and i could not.

I have a brother who is self-employed and I know that he and his wife do not have health insurance or at the most VERY little. His children are covered, but if something were to happen to him, he would be unable to pay the medical bills and probably lose his business. Since he is self-employed I know that he is very stressed and has lost a lot of business due to the economy. My siblings and I worry that something will happen. It's a terrible situation when you have to "wait and see" and pray that nothing happens. We feel... (more)

Laid off at 59 and lost health care. My wife currently is working for local school district but has been told cut backs are coming. We have a diabetic daughter that needs health care or serious consequences will be inevitable. What are we to do when we work for corporations our whole life and when they can no longer do business as usual we are the ones who suffer. Our country needs a health care plan to help everyone, equally and non bias. If we can bail out large corporations with billions of our money why can't can't we dump billions... (more)

As a mental health care provider I watched my income drop 5-10 thousand dollars a year for nine years. This was the result of managed care denying care so bonuses can be paid. There is a conflict of interest when the insurance company holds the purse strings as well as deciding if care will be approved. This is not rocket sience...a health care provider who has laid his eyes on the patient should be making treatment decisions, not some reviewer who gets paid bonuses for saving the company money by denying care. I have had to give up my... (more)

In an average month, I may spend more than $500 out of my own bank account ~ never too robust at the best of times ~ to pay for an AARP Medigap policy, a supplemental MedicareRx policy, co-payments for the many medications I must take, plus costs for ordering meds through Canada contacts or AARP mail order mail-ins. My own personal income consists of Social Security of less than $200 a month and the withdrawals I make on a Reverse Mortgage HECM I have on my house. As I figure it, my money MAY last another two years or so. My husband, who... (more)

My employer cancelled its commitment to cover health insurance for retirees. While I benefit from Medicare in my retirement, my wife, who is 5 years younger, now must pay for private insurance until she qualifies for Medicare. This will cost us over $12,000 a year.

I have worked for a small liberal arts college for 44 years. During that entire time my group medical insurance has been high quality and very expensive: our group is small and in some ways atypical, and our inability to spread our risk more widely means that most of us pay in premium way more than we ever realize in benefits.

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A week before my lumpectomy, my surgeon called to tell me that my insurance company had refused to pay for anything connected with the breast cancer. She was stunned. I felt as if I'd been given a second death sentence. I decided I could pay for my own treatment, with retirement funds, and I did so. My surgeon offered a 50% discount on my surgury. Her assistant told me who else to call to arrange for private pay discounts. I spent the next week calling and making arrangements. ... (more)

After my husband and I divorced, I lost my health care since I was covered on his plan. My employer does offer health insurance. However, the monthly cost of this coverage would deduct a significant amount off my monthly paycheck, too high an amount to cover all my other, more urgent (though not necessarily more important) expenses. I've been without coverage for nearly two years. If there was a more affordable plan available, many millions of Americans who are in the same situation as I am could be covered.

Prosrate cancer survivor and former caretaker for recently deceased 91 year old mom. I believe this plan is very minimally where we should start down the road to alleviating this destructive and insensitive healthcare system. This system is built on greed and profit and not the Hippocratic oath. Will G. Phillips

I see many people who do not have any health care plans at all. It is painful to see some of them needing serious health problems attended to & not considering the option of going to a clinic or Dr. for help because of no funds. I am a nurse & it is apparent to me that we need a single pay program. It would save billions of dollars that have been diverted to the big insurance and pharmaceutical companies. Let nurses & physicians have more say in what is accepted...we have more knowledge than someone on the other end denying a... (more)