I have never been able to get private health insurance. Always relying on the state for medical coverage. Until I moved to Minnesota for college now the state of Minnesota does not want to give me healthcare, so I cannot see any of my doctors even though I have medical disabilities.

I am a small businessman. About ten years ago I gave my employees group healthcare coverage for their entire family. About seven years ago my budget got blown out of sight by group rate increases. The next year I switched to a HSA. I actually slightly increased the dollar amount paid to each employee, but fixed the dollar amount. A few years later I had to cut that dollar amount in half as the company re-trenched and re-invented itself. Now my employees must bear the cost of ever-rising premiums because my business could not. I try to... (more)

I worked in a shelter for victim/survivors of domestic violence. The lack of affordable health care kept victim/survivors and witnesses (children) from seeking preventitive medical care, couseling to work on the devastating ramifications of domestic violence, and dental care. From where our Shelter is located, people have to travel an estimated 100 miles to get dental care on Medicaid. So it just doesn't get done - no money for gas, maybe not even a reliable vehicle, can't take off work wihtout getting docked pay - or fear of losing a job. It... (more)

I am an ordinary retired person. I remember health insurance costs going up so dramatically between gthe 1980's to 2001 when I retired. I am now on Medicare (with co pays, etc. and it is WONDERFUL!!!) I wish this PUBLIC HEALTHCARE OPTION to be available to all Americans. HMO's, Insurance companies and Drug companies are scared because they know they can't compete. I don't want any insurance company coming between a person and their doctor. I suppose that makes me a conservative in the classic sense? We love President Obama. He... (more)

I have worked in the health care industry for 36 years as a nurse. I never dreamed I could be in a position where I may not be able to afford insurance for ordinary preventative and occaisional acute care needs. I am 62 and my premiums are so high, even with a $5,000 deductable, that we may have to drop it. We are at that difficult age where my husband can continue to work but I stay home and care for my 93 yr old mother and I run the office for our small trucking business. We will probably keep insurance on my husband, the bread winner, but... (more)

My wife just was laid off from a managment postiton. We own a small and growing company and cannot find coverage for our family and employees. Please make Socialized medicine a reality.

A lot of the arguments that I hear regarding a new health care system begin with "why don't you find a job that offers health care? You can't depend on the government." My argument? Many employers no longer offer health care. If they are required to do so by law for their full-time employees, they hire a person to work the maximum hours part-time so they don't have that expense. It's happened to me. The only other option is to find a private insurance company which can cause a small fortune. If a company does offer you health... (more)

I am a registered nurse and I have seen patients come into our hospital very ill because they could not afford to see a doctor at a clinic when their illness was minor and more treatable.

I have been virtually unemployed for 17 months, except for a small part-time job working as a custodian for the church I attend. I have been separated from my husband since August of 2007, and the federal Housing and Rehabiliation Act program pays my rent every month. I also work at several small odd jobs, housecleaning, raking lawns, whatever I can do to earn an extra $20-30, for a total average monthly income of $120-130. I can't afford to even look at health insurance avaliability, let alone try to find a policy I can afford. I can barely... (more)

My daughter is battling cancer today. She is the 31 year old single parent of my two grandchildren who are 8 and 10. Hannah, who is 10, was born with Spina Bifida and requires alot of time and attention and misses alot of school. Sarah has been a working mom since the kids were 2 and 4. She didnt make alot of money but she did make too much to qualify for Minnesota care but not enough to pay for insurance for her and the kids. Because of this she had no health insurance. Sarah worked many hours trying to make ends meet, paying for childcare... (more)

I have lost a son (age 36, aneurysm), and a sister (age 51, colon cancer) because neither could afford health insurance and let disease symptoms go too far. My sister worked for 18 years for the United States Post Office. She left her position to help her daughter start a floral business and gambled that she was young and healthy enough to forgo expensive insurance until she could afford it. Both my sister and my son worked all their lives. They were not deadbeats. My brother was between jobs when his colon cancer struck. By the time... (more)

My husband and I have 2 small children and are currently expecting another baby. We have access to health insurance through my husband's employer, but the COST of that insurance is TOO HIGH, and every year the costs are going up. We pay $370 every month in premiums. Yet in addition to this, we must meet a $4,000 deductible before insurance pays anything towards routine office visits, hospitalizations, ER visits, etc. We are (soon to be) a family of 5, on an annual income of only $40,000, and we are spending $8,400 only on health... (more)

My husband and I have both gone for periods of time without health insurance. I was denied private insurance due to "pre-existing" conditions. My 1 year old daughter was denied by Blue Cross because she had a urinary tract infection when she was 2 weeks old, but is relatively healthy. Everyone should be able to afford health care and be provided with quality health care.

I left my position at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota as a Respiratory Therapist to care for my Mother, Genevieve Colwell, who has a history of multiple CVA's and ? Alzheimer's disease, in 1996. Between my sister, Kate, a Register RN, and I we have cared for my mother since that time. In 2003 it became obvious that I would no longer be able to work outside the home as her needs became significant. The social worker and Rn told me she would be the highest care level in an nursing home. She qualified for the Alternative care program... (more)

I have dealt with many people in the course of ministering in various parishes. I have met a woman in her early 60's who was unable to get seriously needed help because she had not yet reached her 65th Birthday. Her condition has continued to worsen. Onlyl recently, after turning 65, has she been able to start getting help for a blood condition that has been plaguing her for the past two years. I have also encountered Hispanic children with health problems that they have not been able to afford to remedy. In Minnesota our Governor... (more)

At 55 years of age I was dismissed from my job. It was clear to me, although not stated by my employers, that my dismissal was due to the cost of my health care coverage. All of the new employees were in their 20's. Now I have to pay for my health insurance and I am seriously considering dropping it because I can't afford it. It is a terrifying concept not to have health insurance because I know at our ages, my husband and I are due for a major medical incident that could wipe out my small retirement account and leave us destitute in our... (more)

Insurance companies deciding whether, where and when our family received care has caused unnecessary annoyance and tied the hands of our health care professionals in reccommending the best course of action. Any plan that does not eliminate the control of insurance companies does not go far enough. Added beuracracy will only complicate an already broken system. Is health insurance company money really so powerful that politicians can't get meaningful legislation passed? Any plan short of single pay is a foolish waste. Why can't we... (more)

I'm 33 years old, married with 3 kids. I have been an LPN for 7 years and recently decided to make a better life for my family by returning to school to get my RN degree. When I began last fall, I decided that I would decrease my work hours to an "as needed" basis so I could focus on my schooling. This meant that I had to forfeit my health insurance. I had to decide between the future of my family or being held hostage by health insurance. I'm the insurance holder through my job, and my husband doesn't have health care as an option... (more)

I worked in the billing office of an oncology clinic. I saw hard working Americans struggle to pay their bills and even sell their home or car to pay for treatment. I also saw illegal immigrants receive free care. It's sad to me that Americans have to go to such great lengths to recieve treatment and care that is free to someone who isn't even American. The real American the one who is dying and can't afford care - their taxes are paying for the illegal immigrant's care who has never and will never contribute anything to our society, our... (more)

I do not have health insurance because when I did, they would not even cover 5 dollars off of a doctors bill. I was paying right around $400.00 a month and it kept going higher. I have not been to my doctor in over 2 yrs because I am still paying off a &500.00 doctor bill. Every month the interest goes higher which makes it hard to get a clean balance. I have finally got it down to 200.00 and I received a letter today telling me that if it is not paid in 10 days it goes to collection and I will have to pay cash to even see my doctor.Now... (more)