We have a small business, a huge portion of our income goes to pay for substandard health care. We delay medical visits and procedures since prevention is mostly not covered. A few years ago we had to pay out of pocket when two of my children were born, since individual policies for the self employed typically do not cover labor and delivery. We truly live with the constant fear of getting sick and losing our insurance. Health care reform is a must, a life or death issue and not a political game, as some members on Congress appear to... (more)

I am fortunate. I currently have health insurance provided through my wife's employer. However, the employer will be laying off many in the very near future. The COBRA provided extension is really not an option because it is generally too expensive. I dread what will happen in the very near future. I would like to be able to buy my own health insurance but the costs are just too high. I was hospitalized a couple of years ago for a staph infection on my elbow. After two surguries and a week in the hospital, my insurance paid a whopping bill,... (more)

I am one of the fortunate ones who have health insurance through their employer. And one of the very fortunate ones who could even afford health insurance out of my own pocket if I had to. But that doesn't make the fact that in our country health care is a luxury easier to swallow. That's why I fully stand behind President Obama's initiative to reform and revive an ailing system that has been on life support for quite some time now. Thank you.

I recently got laid off and lost my health care benefits. Health care should not be tied to your job and every resident should be entitled to health care benefits by virtue of being a resident. We need urgently need a National Health care system so that our health care will not be tied to our job.

Do the best you can! I have to much to tell, but all praise go to God for keeping and watching over me, and my mother through out the trying times we were dealing with. My mother is now deceased, so President Obama keep God first and do your best! Please let God direct your every foot step.

I spent years as a freelance writer, and even though I was and continue to be in good health, I felt a responsibility to maintain personal health insurance coverage. The only policy I could afford, however, covered only the most drastic conditions and carried a very high deductible. I was never able to use that coverage for the sort of routine services that can prevent serious - and expensive - problems down the line. I was paying for insurance, but I didn't dare use it. It always puzzled me how elected officials could praise the virtues of... (more)

I began to understand the shortcomings of the U.S. healthcare system about twelve years ago. I had developed a back problem that was mis-diagnosed by several healthcare practitioners including orthopedic surgeons. If I had not found a doctor to diagnose me properly, my quality of life would have been greatly compromised. The doctors who mis-diagnosed me only offered surgery and drugs. If I had not known to seek alternatives, then I would have really compromised my health as most Americans do because they do not know that alternatives exist. I... (more)

I am an Army veteran. I have served my country faithfully and during the worst period in our country's history. I am burdened with bills from student loans, rent, groceries, car insurance, gas, etc. I am forced to make decisions as to how I should spend my money. Too often that means that I must sacrifice my own health because the cost of seeing a doctor would take too much from me. I have to save up my money over the months to afford doctor visits.

I am a small business owner. I nor my husband can afford health insurance nor can we provide it for our employees. My husban suffers from very bad allergies and has infections many times. With the struggling economy we can barely afford for him to go to the doctor. He is forced to suffer and try to cope by using over the counter remedies.

HIV+ since 1993. I get public health care from a GREAT doctor who I have seen for 5 years. I get excellent "government health care." Stop lying about public health. No doctor would give substandard care just because the patient doesn't have private insurance! Firefighters, police, the military and teachers are government workers and they serve the people WELL.

Hello, First of all, we hate to complain too much as my husband, Mark is still with us. In 1985 when Mark was just 35 and I was pregnant with our first daughter we was diagnosed with upper stage 3 testicular cancer with a large tumor attached to his kidney. If you have read Lance Armstrong's book you will know exactly what my husband went through. After 4 rounds of chemo and a 8 hours surgery that removed one of his kidneys he was told that he was cancer free. Unfortunately, the chemo drugs used back them ruined his remaining kidney. He... (more)

I have two sons that have aged out of my health plan, but are unable to afford one of their own. My eldest son is self employed and simply can't afford the cost and my youngest son is unemployed and could not afford the COBRA. The President's plans for COBRA came too late for him.

After 23 perfectly healthy years, I started to notice some changes in my appearance and behavior. I was losing weight despite being ravenously hungry, I was constantly thirsty and waking from a sound sleep twice a night to urinate, and I found myself unusually tired. I was very sick by the time I was finally diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes approximately 8 months after the symptoms began. It was partly denial and partly not realizing that Juvenile Diabetes could occur at 23 years of age that kept me from being diagnosed earlier. Three weeks... (more)

I am in die need of Dental work,but i can't afford it.These Dentists are way off of cont- rol with Dental care cost!something needs to be done about Dental cost,which is being over look by youall.

It will be difficult to control the cost of health care, without controlling immigration into this country. The legal immigrate is flooding the hospitals in this country, and Americans are picking up the tab. Most of the immigrate from South American don't belive in contraception, have large families. this need to change. I want you to be pro- life, no abortions. education teenagers to not get pregnant. Encourge people to give the unwanted child up for adoption. Education the public, don't have children you don't want to raise.If you have... (more)

"Its a shame that because you can not afford to pay for health care, you will not receive it in america. It seam that the rich do not care what happen to those who cannot afford to pay for it. Clyde Phillips

As a Blessed 2-time Cancer Survivor, the need to have qaulity health care is an absolute most. Again, I am and have been very BLESSED, with insurance, yet not w/out a cost.

I believe that the prices are so high for the health care and most people cannot afford it. I know in some countries there are free health care with the best doctors. I think the change is possible and I support our president Barack because he is visionary.

I'm lucky - good health - and good insurance thanks to Medicare and Teacher's Retirement of Texas which gives me Medicare Supplement free. but I learned the other day of a woman who lives in my building who can't afford Actonel although she has been diagnosed with osteoporosis; she also has diabetes and has to cut down on that medication.

I am very blessed to have my job and make great money. My Job is in Sales and since the turn down in the economy, sales have been down 45%. I make a salary and depend on commission from my sales as part of my income. I have a five year old and a i=one year old and when they get sick and I have to take them to the emergengy room it is a $150 deductable on top of the $1200 deductable out of pocket for all four of us. I also pay $300 a month for the Family plan.$4800 a year minimum out of pocket to pay for health insurance. I understand that... (more)