I'm fed up with health insurance providers that would rather see the patient die so that they can stop paying cliams (my friend Alison Bine). I'm outraged by the inflated charges for simple tests and medications (700% markup is not fair). The amount of paperwork, the hours on hold, the whole system is broken and needs to be overhauled.

Not having a full time job equates to not having affordable insurance. It pains me to go to bed at night. I worry that if I'm afflicted with any type of health problem that I'll become a burden to the system and that I wont get the neccessary care that I would otherwise be afforded If I had proper insurance. I support the President Obama's health iniative 110 percent.

My sister and I are both owners of small businesses; I founded and lead, with my spouse, a boutique management consultancy practice, now in its twelfth year of operation. We are successful by small business standards, and feel lucky that we can pay our health insurance premiums - over $1,400 per month. I was treated for breast cancer in 2006, and was fortunate in the quality of my care, the quality of my insurance provider, and the fact that three years later, I am well - and still have coverage. My sister runs an in-home pet care business.

I am an RN....and ready to get on the news about the way Doctors order unwarranted test, surgery, changing DNR status back to Full Code...with NO quality of life in the pt. .... gallons of blood being given....and we can't even give this blood to a 12 yr. old little girl with Lymphoma cancer....I was at a blood donor unit last month and heard this exact story from a person that worked on it....I am fed up with healthcare, Especially here in S. Florida. I love saving lives of people ever since I was a fireman,paramedic.

I am a recently retired VERY healthy 62 year old with no medical conditions and not taking any medications. I work out everyday, eat the right foods. I have taken out an individual healthcare policy which has a $5000 deductable and does not pay for my yearly checkups. I have always had health insurance and always taken care of my health, always went for the yearly check up. My rate is now $400 a month and will rise each year until I turn 65 and qualify for Medicare. There is absolutely no reason for me to pay such a high premium (I pay it... (more)

someone once said in other words, "of all the injustices in this country, lack of healthcare is the worst."

My health care story is after losing my job I was offered COBRA at 3 x the rate I was paying while I had a job. How can this be? While I was working and making a paycheck my health insurance was $345.00 per month....I lose my job due to cutbacks and am offered the same coverage thru COBRA at $975 per month !! But I have no job so how does this help me? So I shop around to find out for the same coverage I got thru my employer is never going to fit my now lower budget....so I compromise....I don't need prescription coverage or doctor... (more)

I am a divorced 60 year old woman with a low standard health Insurance plan, I can only visit my General Doctor, no specialists, I can only get generic meds. , no brand names. I have the Insurance through my job where my hours have been cut, BUT I am one of the lucky ones who still have SOME insurance and a part time job. My twin 23 yr. old sons don't have insurance at all, nor my 62 yr. old neighbor lady. The American people have needed reform for a LONG time, Now is the time!!! We Have to have medical insurance for everyone.

I am currently dealing with an insurance company's impending denial of paying for a biopsy that revealed a skin cancer for which I now need surgery. The company is suggesting that the biopsy is indicating a pre-existing condition. If it is, they will not pay for any claims to do with the cancer for 12 months. Everyone knows that it takes years and years for a carcinoma to develop. I have skin-I live in Florida, hello. The question should not be, when did this thing begin to develop on the cellular level, but what's the best way to fix it now... (more)

The health care industrial complex tried to delay the certain death of my father until every last dime could be captured. Those costs for their so-called "saving" of life are escalating insurance costs for all Americans. As a result, millions of Americans and several members of my family can not afford health insurance. It is time to send a clear signal to the health care industry: You can not have it both ways. You can not price Americans out of health insurance and then, expect government to fill in the gaps. It is time for... (more)

I've been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I'm bewildered on how I contracted this virus, but never the less, I have it. With insurance companies it's a stigma beyond what lies ahead of me physically. I will cost insurance companies money, they know it, and they don't want to cover me. Private health insurance is quite different from public national health carriers. They don't have to cover me, and National carriers want a "buffer" period prior to covering those with pre existing conditions. Loop holes seem to be written in such fine... (more)

I'm a chef by trade, with many other interests. The vast majority of my employers simply don't offer health care. The shame of our medical system is that unless you accept a "square" job and lead a life less inspired, you have a tremendous medical liability. That leaves the artists and artisans and people that don't fit in with the corporate world out in the cold. Those people enrich everyone's lives and they deserve better. It seems to me that the only reason this problem hasn't been addressed is corporate power and effective... (more)

My best friend lost his job and now has trouble buying his anti- depressants, he often thinks of suicide. It breaks my heart to see someone suffer so deeply.

With rising healthcare costs, I'm not sure what I am going to do. At nearly $800/month for my cost (and basically, I have no health issues that are being paid for!), I am having to consider drastic changes. At age 56, it is increasingly difficult to find adequate alternatives.

I have a friend who was in an armored car accident. She was driving the armored car and was hit by a driver going over a 100 mph. The armored car was flipped over and she was in a coma for over 2 months. She is on disability and they placed her on an HMO, which only allows once a month chiropractic visit, she is in so much pain more often than not, but she does have "health insurance".

My husband suffers from diberticulosis, and he is self-employed; I get insurance through work, but even then he had a colonoscopy and endoscopy done because there is history of cancer in his family; the total bill was $6,000.00,I could not believe it!! a simple procedure as an endoscopy and colonoscopy, the insurance company paid only paid 50% because they were saying that this was a preexisting condition, or whatever, now we are stuck with $3,000.00 for only having a simple procedure done. Eventhough I have insurance I barely go to the... (more)

A friend who has had private health insurance with the same company for 20 years fell and broke her hip. Her insurance company has stopped paying for therapy while she still has very little use of her leg and hip. This is criminal as well as immoral. Is this the great American life we want to export to developing democracies around the world? This is a black eye for capitalism and the free enterprise system. The "most advanced and richest country in the world" cannot guarantee good health care to all its citizens? What's wrong with... (more)

After my last job ended in 2001, health care costs became unaffordable. I worked for Buckholz Engineering company in Florida as an Inspector submitting reports on the construction of variable message signs on the Highways in Broward county. When the job ended they sent me the COBRA healthcare bill to continue paying, now without employer assistance. Since it was a choice between food-bill or this health-care bill I filed the health-care bill away and have engaged in my own personal preventive strategies for maintaining health since I... (more)

A friend's son had a kidney transplant. The friend was bankrupt within 9 months. If the same operation had been done in many other countries, it would have been affordable, but because it was done here, it destroyed these people's personal finances, credit, and many relationships with friends. The usury in US healthcare is accepted white-collar crime and should be cut.

The Health Care System has just plain gone to pot. If I had not had insurance with the 8 back surgeries that I endured and came out the other side because I had a good policy that cost me $13,000, I would not be here. Now, everything is so out of whack. If you are hospitalized they charge you $12.00 for a box of kleenex and so forth. The Doctors are so stressed do to all the paper work that they need to do for all sort of situations. We must do something. At the moment, my health supplement cost over $4,000 a year and I am retired. ... (more)