I have several friends who are hard working, law abiding, smart, and worthwhile people. They do not have health insurance because of the high cost or because they are not offered it through their jobs. I see no reason why they should gamble with their health. Without national healthcare they would be better off living in a 3rd world country. We should be ashamed that healthcare is treated as a comodity here in the US.

My son died of cancer in 1999. I had worked in the school system for 29 years as a teacher, and had just resigned one month before my son got diagnosed with cancer. I was told my insurance would not cover him after I was no longer employed by the school system, although my insurance premium was paid thru the current month in which my was diagnosed. My son battled cancer for 13 months,the medical bills quickly built up, ten years later here I am still paying medical bills, and being sued for them. This is a prime example of the poor health... (more)

Like thousands of Americans, I have seen the cost of insurance rise higher and higher while claims have been denied for myriad reasons. We've all been warned of the "deny first" reaction of insurance companies to normal, everyday claims. We can't always wait them out or endure the frustration of hours spent hung up in phone trees. Premiums rise, and coverage declines. My personal grievances are minimal, more frustrating that anything. I don't have any major illnesses. But what about my best friend, unemployed for a long time, and... (more)

My daughter in law was diagnosed with cancer while still living in New York several years ago. My son was coming to work with me in Georgia, and I had put him on a group BCBS health insurance group including just him and myself one month before diagnosis. Every year our premiums went up 30%. When my company could no longer sustain the costs ($3,000 a month for his family and my wife since I was by then on medicare), I closed the company and he found a job in Washington DC working for a government contractor and getting a little more affordable... (more)

About 5 years ago, I was asked by an aunt to care for her in her dying. She had ovarian cancer. She, however, had no healthcare coverage because of the high expense and demands. I watched her suffer extensively, mainly, due to the lack of healthcare. I know that healthcare is everything over any sickness so it seems, at any given moment, in terms of priority for healthcare providers. This seems all to twisted as clinicians, doctors, and other medical professions take an oath to provide and protect human kind; however, ensuring funding is... (more)

yes, please do something to help! i have a 10,000 dollar ded. that cost me almost 200.00 dollars a month. yet at a 10,000 ded. i can't go to the doctor, because i can't meet that kind of ded. i don't mind paying-i just want to have a ded i can use if needed. something better that a 60/40 plan also!!! please help legenia smith

I have been on early disability since 2003 due to 3 lumbar fusions and severe fibromyalgia. In addition to this, I recently got a divorce after 10-1/2 years. In addition to paying for my Medicare premiums, I pay $245.00/month for another health insurance policy to cover the medication and other deductibles that are not covered by Medicare. Not only does this other insurance policy cost in addition to my Medicare insurance, each doctor's appointment has a co-pay of $15.00/per out-patient surgical procedure or hospital admission has a co-pay... (more)

I HAVE BEEN LUCKY OR HAVE HAD GOOD PLANNING. I HAVE BCBS AND NOW MEDICARE. MY FIRST WIFE DIED OF CANCER. THE SECOND HAD PART OF HER SPINE FUSED. MY THIRD WIFE HAS FIVE BULGING DISC IN HER LOWER BACK. I HAVE HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS TEST. THE ONLY REASON MY WIFE AND I CAN LIVE A GOOD LIFE IS BECAUSE OF INSURANCE AND THE GOOD LORD.

Without healt care I wouldnt be alive anymore. I had a realy bad burnout and if they wouldnt pay for me,I had no chnge to get healthy and better now.Its absolutly important to have a health care for everybody on this world. Everybody should have the change to get and stay healthy.Jana Batthyány

I am a nurse practitioner in Georgia. I see many Americans in the Hopspital daily that do not have insurance. However, despite their ability to pay we as health care providers have an obligation to to help them. As a result of so many people not having insurance, the hospital and medical staff suffer the cost. I agree that if health insurace was more affordable than more people would have haelth insurance. I also believe that people should be more accountable and obtain health insurance if they have a job. In addition, large and small... (more)

I myself have struggled with ulcerative colitis for the past 17 years. I am now 40 years old. The rising cost of health care make it almost impossible at times to afford health insurance because in order to get the cheapest I must increase my deductible to $1,000 or more. One of my prescriptions cost me $165.00 for a month supply of medicine and each year it goes up. Please Congress, I am asking you to do the right thing and stand with our President. Thank you.

I have to pay $5,750.40 a year out of pocket for health insurance

I am employed with the State of Georgia and right now we are having to furlough one day per month. With the rising cost of things like food,gas,utilities,and taxes we literally can not afford to get sick. My wife and I are middle aged parents and we have a teen aged son actively involved sports and God forbid if something devestating were to happen to either of us. Being the head of the house I have a real concern for the well being of my family.

I am an American citizen who is married to a Canadian citizen. He is very proud of the Canadian health care system and has said often that he hopes that President Obama can in fact introduce real health care reform in the United States. I have four beautiful adult daughters. The two youngest are still in college. One of them became sick two years ago at college. She was in and out of emergency rooms and hospital rooms for two years. She has had every digestive system test imaginable. She has been administered innumerable I.V solutions. She has... (more)

Hi, I recently lost my job due to plant closure and no longer have health insurance that I need so bad. I am on lots of meds and now it takes all of my unemployment to pay for it. One of the things Pres. Obama could do is provide health care free of charge for those like myself and for those on social security.

I really hope we can get a one payer system of health care, because as long as our system is traded on WALL STREET. we will never have affordable health care. I have seen my pay drop and every part of my medical coverage rise. I pay more for health care,my co-pay have double, my out of pocket have gone up, my deductable have gone up and the insurance does not cover a lot for my family. My wife had a baby in March, 2009, and I am still geting ripped off from the bills come in the mail. The insurance is not paying much and the doctors and the... (more)

I too want our health insurance cost to come down,and be more afordable for all families in this great Country of ours, I am a Registered Nurse and do know the importance and need for good health insurance,since I have to use mine quite oftain, and it is very costly,Istand with our President,you got my vote in November and you got it now. Maggie Brisco R.N.Manager CSH

I am a LCSW who works for primary heath care clinics in rural GA. We are able to provide primary health care for a large number of people who have no health care coverage and whose income is well below the poverty level. Though primary care is available it is near impossible to get the tests or specialists needed to provide treatment for diagnosed illnesses. Even a $4 co pay for medications puts a financial strain on them. Often they do without medications or choose those they feel are most important. It is time to provide health care for all... (more)

we need better healthcare blue cross blue shield pays ok but, i think we pay to much for it to pay to little. dental is also a need for children. i was told the reason dental doesn't pay goo is because we can get another set of teeth but, not another life. i want my son and myself to keep our teeth

I am a 53 year-old Black woman. We have been married nearly 32 years, however my husband and I now live in separate cities. He lives in Atlanta and makes 8.00 an hour, even though he is retired from the Army National Guard and has master mechanic skills. I live about 140 miles away, and I take care of my mother. I am currently laid off from a census position. I have diabetes, high blood pressure, and respiratory problems and my husband currently pays about 780 dollars a month for my health insurance. He goes without a stable place to live... (more)