My sister and her husband living in Monroe, Georgia cannot afford to have full health insurance for her 2 young children. She spends time worrying about whether to go to the emergency room or cross her fingers someone will get better. She is the same way for herself who waited days for a flu episode to get better before she ended up in the ER. This should not be happening in such a powerful country. The system is antiquated & broken.

As a graduate student I am unable to afford health care for myself; although my daughter is currently covered by Healthy Families, it is only available to children. I am constantly worried about my health and health prevention; I know, as a parent, I need health insurance! Yet, I am unable to pay high health premiums and co-payments. Health care plans available through my husband's employer are even higher... Making health care available and affordable for all citizens should be a priority for everyone.

I was diagnosed with HIV in 2005. I am currently 25 years old and without healthcare. I tried to apply for a healthcare plan a few months ago and when I finished the questionnaire, the healthcare provider determined that they could not offer me affordable coverage due to my pre-existing condition. I cannot afford the ridiculous amount that was proposed to me because I make no where near enough to pay for the insurance. Now I have to settle on taking care of myself in the best possible way in order to ensure that I live a long and full life. I... (more)

My mother is diabetic and absolutely no one will insure her.

I will be 55yrs old in Oct,I have not had health care since my last formal job ended in 1978...sad but true. I go to free clinics and try to stay well.

I nearly lost my life just this last week. I'd been suffering for a few months, but was unwilling to seek medical care because I'm uninsured. Unfortunately, I collapsed and was rushed to ER just a week ago. Turns out, I was hours away from kidney failure. Now, I'm getting healthier, but have thousands of dollars to pay in hospital bills... and, I lost my job because I was out sick. What's a single, 27 year old girl to do in this situation? I can't even get medicare because I'm not pregnant... and, as much as I want a baby, I love my future... (more)

Dear Mr. President, The someones I know all live in our neighbor to the noeth--CANADA. Enough said.

My mother, a CA state employee, doesn't have insurance due to high prices. We need to stand up for those that have been hushed. I sincerely hope that this reform, once Hillary's passion, be carried out. I don't want to lose my mother, because of the lack in opportunity to see a doctor.

i cant afford heathcare insurance, havent been to a doctor in years, and only go when its an absolute emergency, meaning excessive cost for even the smallest concern, i always fear not being able to climb out of debt if a medical emergency arises in my family.

How about the fact that we are the ONLY industrialized nation without some sort of national health care. It's a disgrace and we should be ashamed.

When I was laid off at the end of November last year, I decided to shop around for an individual health plan because the COBRA premium was so expensive. I had NO idea how hard it is to get coverage. Blue Cross rejected me even though I'm healthy, because I had taken clomid (only once). Then I applied for Kaiser, but in the meantime found out I was pregnant and so was disqualified from eligibility to Kaiser because pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition. It was also difficult for my husband to get individual coverage because of a... (more)

I am grateful thank you, to say that I am in good health, I am currently insured, and consider myself very fortunate. This was not always the case.

President Obama, My name is Danielle Perez. I am 25 years old and four years ago I became a bi-lateral below the knee amputee. My mother works for the Los Angeles Unified School District and receives full medical benefits. Over the past four years medical insurance has been extended to me because of my status as a full time student. However, this privilege expired the day I turned 25. I am currently uninsurable because of my pre-existing condition. Americans need real health care reform!

A mother to an 18-month-old girl, I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer just days before my 36th birthday. After three lumpectomies, six grueling rounds of chemotherapy, and a bilateral mastectomy, it was discovered through pathology analysis that I had a second, discrete cancer growing in my other breast, undetected by mammogram. Fortunately, my doctor had convinced my health insurance company of the necessity to do the bilateral surgery. Had that not occurred, he believed that the undetected, high-grade cancer would have become... (more)

I'm one of the lucky in this country. I have a health coverage with my husband's plan called Motion Picture Plan. However, I've noticed that they do not cover some things well anymore, like chiropractors and mental health specialists. And every year I have to prove to them that, as his spouse, I don't have another health plan..even if it's an HMO or a plan that isn't as good as Motion Picture. The problem, though, is that even Motion Picture has had to make cuts to one of their most treasured assets. And that's the critical care for the... (more)

I've been waiting all of my adult life for health care reform. Luckily I've been on my husband's insurance or else I wouldn't have any. Because of measly migraine headaches, which are totally controlled, no one will insure me. Now my husband is on disability because of cancer..when his insurance runs out, what the heck am I supposed to do?

I work in a Catholic school, with some insurance, but I have seen those costs rise, and less and less coverage. I was out of work for several months a few years ago, and even though my health has been great with very few doctor bills, I was overweight and could not get health care from any carrier I tried. I was petrified I would get sick. Americans should not feel they have no place to turn!

My life is fine because I'm part of the medicare program and a member of Kaiser Permanente. I worry about my friends, one of whom told me that her doctor charged $600 for a 10 minute visit. Things are out of control. When I was 7 I was hospitalized after a tonsillectomy resulted in internal bleeding. My dad worked in a brewry and my mom stayed at home. Somehow my family paid for that hospital stay - I was too know to know the cost, but it must have been affordable. My parents did not go into debt because of it. I think health care should not... (more)

I live in Los Angeles with my husband and 2 children. We, in my view are typical upper middle class Los Angelenos. We are lucky to have health insurance through my husband's employer, but it still costs us too much. Through Blue Cross Anthem, my husband's employer pays close to $1000 a month for our family coverage, but we still have a co-pay and the costs of tests, cultures, and any other laboratory work is not paid for. Since my income is commission based (LA Realtor in bad market), my income has dropped dramatically in the last year.... (more)

The Health cots is too expensive and bad