For years, I was misdiagnosed for problems related to my digestive health. Pain, pain and more pain was the order of the day. At 34 years old with pain so unbearable in my abdomen, I drove myself to the emergency room. After two days of testing, they determined that I had diverticulitis. It was undiagnosed for years beacuse "I was too young for this condition"; It was never considered. My colon ruptured and emergency surgery ensued. To the point: I am grateful for health insurance. I received an "explanation of... (more)

My neice was five months pregrante could not get a medical card because of the W-2 system she have to have a case with children. after three months recieved an emergncy card A DAY LATED DELIVERED A 1 POUND BABY BOY sIR tERRION LIVED FOR NINE DAY THEN WE LAD HIM TO REST

We are self-employed and my husband has diabetes. I have an insurance plan that has an extremely high deductible and now that I'm 55, I'm afraid of things starting to 'break down". My premium is over $300/month. I am due for a colonostomy, but cannot afford it. My husband has to have high risk insurance and his premium is $357/month. Please, work on a universal health care plan or reduced costs for procedures. Health care should be a right for everyone, not a privilege. I have complete faith in President Obama as I know he... (more)

I own a small recruiting/staffing firm with 5 full-time employees that we can cover for health benefits. In addition, we help connect great people with great companies. Here's one problem we have encountered, and it seems to be a trend. We work with several candidates that COULD take part-time jobs, which are what some companies are offering in this economy, but because they cannot get health coverage benefits working part-time, they unfortunately stay unemployed, hoping and looking for full-time work with benefit plans. This means that the... (more)

After working since I was 18 years old,i went into heart failure in 2003 after losing my joband I didn't have health insurance. Hospalized for 5 days, I had to have a heart catherization and my hospital bill was over $6000.00. Once I was released I still need medications but had no source of income.With God's help I was able to get general assistance from the government. However, that changed in January 2009 and now I only have limited coverage because some of my medications aren't covered. I now have copd, asthma, hypertention, heart failure... (more)

I have a sister with Crohn's disease and other diseases as a result of this main illness It has been impossible for yrs for her to get the health care she needs as she is many times not able to work and obtain care through an employer. The care she is offered is exceptionally costly and many times she has had to forgo necessary medications because her family could not afford them. Americans should not be forced to live this way.

I teach at a Catholic college. We take our students to places that serve the homeless. I have talked with many who lack the care that we can afford. This is unfair and ultimately it is costly for us all.

Within a month I will not have health care. COBRA costs are so expensive that I cannot maintain coverage. I only hope that I can remain healthy during this undetermined amount of time with no safety net.

A friend of mine had a family history of heart disease (father and brother died young of heart disease). He was employed but did not have health care through his work and could not afford to buy the medication for high blood pressure. He was found dead in his apartment. He was in his fifties. Why? My son just graduated from Minneapolis College of Art and Design and has such high repayment costs for his student loans that the cost of health care is a burden to him. He still has not gotten health insurance since going off of my health... (more)

My wife, Maria is suffering from a very rare and inherited nerve cancer call Derriers. Currently there is no known cure and medical costs for treatment is astronomical. Her mother, Ofelia, died of this debilitating disease two years ago, and we're doing all we can to prolong the life of my wife.

I found out in June of 2007 that i had diabetes. Now i am eating more health and walking more for a better life.

Some years back I needed to change jobs after my previous employer went out of business. My only choice at the time was to take out a family COBRA Plan with prohibitively high monthly premiums. My next employer did not offer any health insurance. As a result I was again in a compromising financial situation, until I finally accepted a position with my current employer. My family and I are fortunate we now have affordable health insurance. However, if I lose my current job, we could be back in the same boat as before.

Over 2 years ago I was diagnosied with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I didn't have health care offered at my previous job and had been waiting to get health care at the job I was currently at. I had to rely on free clinic and E.R's for treatment. The only help the E.R.'s could give me were pain meds. but nothing to treat the RA which at this time was progessing. The pain and inflamation was so bad one night I lost the ability to walk and my boyfriend had to carry me to the car and he drove me to the Emergency Room. They gave me Morphine, Muscle... (more)

As a Family Nurse Practitioner I continuously encounter people who lose their health insurance and don't take their medications for months at a time. The long term effect on the health care system will be more long-term complications like strokes and kidney failure that will cost quality and length of life and much much more to the society and the health care system. We must have UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR ALL -I believe the best way to do that is to eliminate the insurance middle-man and create a single payer system - we already... (more)

I work in one of the most disconnected areas in Milwaukee, 53206. If the numbers are bad they are in 53206 Childhood Asthma, Heart Disease, Unemployment, returning prison population, low education, Working POOR, like me. I work without insurance. Huge bills from the ER when I get sick. I could tell a story. How adults I met while organizing parents about Asthma, telling me they were taking the children s Medication for Asthma because they could not afford to get their own. People who go to a certain drug store for Vitamins and Herbs versus... (more)

I CANNOT RETIRE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH CARE FOR MY SELF. mY BROTHER RETIRED AND LOST HIS HEALTH CARE THEN HAD EMERGENCY SURGERY. I HOPE HE DOESN'T LOSE HIS HOME BECAUSE OF MEDICAL BILLS.

Like President Obama's mother, I have suffered from cancer. I had surgery and chemotherapy. I have a wonderful job teaching for a music conservatory, but the health insurance premiums, copays, and maximum out-of-pocket expenses are so exhorbitant that any savings I have needs to be kept in tact in case of recurring health issues. I had hoped to purchase a home some day but that seems impossible. Please support President Obama in his work towards healthcare reform.

I am single mother of three children and I am forced to take out high cost medical insurance> I have accumulated bill that I cant afford in deductible and premiums ans still be able to care for my children.

I have a sister who had worked hard all her life and had recently fallen ill with a chronic disease. Her employer who she worked for over 15 years informed her they would have to let her go and the insurance she had with this employer did not cover a lot of the medicine and tests that were ordered so she had to go on disability which she was denied the first time and sell her house to pay for her health care costs. unfortunately by the time she was approved for disability which automatically allowed her to receive a medicare card, she passed... (more)

no insurance always on my mind