I work in a doctor's office and I see the effects that not having "good insurance" has on the public. Sometimes people who need services can't find a specialist and if they do they can't afford to pay for services out of pocket. I also have Medicaid as primary insurance for my kids. Because I work in health care I know who ad what need to to keep a good doctor for them. Otherwise, they would be at the free clinic with the other uninsured or under-insured patients.

I have been unable to affors private health care. I look forward to health plans (public or otherwise) which I will be able to afford. I am now on a limited health plan other than major medical, that only covers the minimum.

My brother-in-law is suffering from Hep-C. Because of the high price of treatment (even with his shoddy insurance), his family is in dire financial straights and will probably need to declare bankrupcy.

My friend is in poor condition due to 9/11. He lived 2 1/2 blocks from the Trade Center. While it was still unsafe to return home he was told by our government that it was safe. To this day he is suffering damage to his mind and nervous system. All of his savings are gone. Since he is totally disabled he does get some help from the government but not enough and very difficult to get treatment. One example: A root canal was needed. The nearest doctor that would do it was 200 miles away. A friend road the train with him because he does not have... (more)

I am a 30 year old nursing student and mother of two. I will be a RN in May of 2010. I have been able to see the doctor when needed but I am unable to go the the dentist because of the costs!

My son has suffered from a serious depression for years. It has cost him any chance of a meaningful career and also his marriage. The only job he can hold down is a menial job in the service sector, which he hates, but that doesn't demand that he be outgoing. Being outgoing is impossible for him. Indeed, he sees no way out of the numbness in which he operates from day to day. He lives far away from friends and family and is utterly alone. He needs treatment badly, but has no health insurance of any kind and, because of his depression, lacks... (more)

My story doesn't effect me, but rather a close friend of my family. She was in an accident that threw her from her car and required a lot of hospitalization and treatment. She had just started a new job and health care had not taken effect yet. She now has almost a half-million dollars worth of debt, the insurance company isn't paying and is faced with bankruptcy. She is 20 years old. It can't be like this. We need change.

My friend is a heart patient who has a part-time job. His employer does not provide insurance for part-timers and he cannot get on full time to get coverage. Since he is working, he is not eligible for any assistance from hospital-based programs. What happens if he gets sick? He dies. What kind of America is that!!??

I'll let someone who really has a great story . Thanks anyway Mr. President .

I am 21 years old, Trying to overcome a decade of obstacles to get established in today's workforce. I am the daughter of a retired waitress who has nearly a masters degree in English. I have lived on my own since I was 17 working full time (or more) and trying to pay for my own schooling. I suffer from both ADD and Clinical Depression and neither are being treated because I do not have access to health care through either of my two jobs. I haven't had adequate health or Dental insurance since I was 16 years old. I am suffering because my... (more)

At the present time i am a single mom whose kids have kid care but i have no coverage at all.The cobra coverage would have benn more than a thousand dollars a month! Affordable health coverage would really help me out...

I have a job and my employer does not provide health care. If I get sick I have to deal with it on my own because I can't afford to go to the doctor.

Health care cost to high and some people can't afford it for example I have to get a medical card because card for me and my baby++

I was one of four children in my family raised in the 80's and 90's. My father owned a small business and my mother was a stay at home parent who also worked in the family business from home. Although we were well-off enough to own a house in a middle class neighborhood, the family car was a 1966 station wagon, my mom did her best to find high-quality clothing at thrift stores for us, and none of us ever had health insurance or the money to visit doctors. I didn't have health insurance until I got my own full-time job after putting myself... (more)

I support a single-payer, nationalized health system. Not only have I been a patient under the present insurance-lobby-controlled plan, but I worked in the healthcare and insurance industries for over 30 years. I know how it works, both as a patient, a nurse, and a claim adjuster. It's not good. In fact, it's outrageous! Change it now. Vote for a nationalized healthcare system where not only is everyone covered by insurance, but they can get QUALITY CARE!!! That is sadly lacking today even if one has health insurance (which certainly... (more)

Dear President, I want you to know that I trully believe we need to cut the cost of healthcare. But I also want you to be aware when u come up with the plan of action, to be careful you don't cause more problems by allowing care to only be available at hospital er for the low income participants ex. ILLINOIS, I deal with mental health care every day at work and the lack of providers, especially TRANSPORTATION for these children/youth. All children should be able to get assistance and all children/youth should be able to have... (more)

When I was thirteen I was raped. I went to the hospital and to the OBGYN. Without insurance, I wouldn't have been able to get the healthcare that I needed at that time because my mother was unemployed at the time. My mother and I also went to a counselor to talk about the rape, and our feelings about it, and the person who raped me. Healthcare is very important to me. Clearly, I was in an abusive relationship. I think that a lot of girls who go through this experience don't know exactly what rape is, exactly what abuse is and what forms... (more)

I am tired of the insurance companies telling my doctor what tests I don't need. They would rather you continue in pain - get PT before they order x-rays, MRI's of CT's.

Hello Mr.President, I'm writing you today in hopes of helping those in need for health care get the right attention that they truly deserve.I'm going through a few problems myself as far as health care because i have no medical card and i'm with out a job at the moment but a few months bac i went to the doctor's to get you know an normal check up for myself and it came back that i may have Cervical Cancer so my doctor wanted me to go to differnt place to get it taking care of but i've really been holding it off because i can't afford it an my... (more)

People engaged in battles for their very lives are having to distract the energy necessary for their fight to regain their health towards worries about how they are going to pay for treatment and what treatment choices they can afford. I recently lost a sister to cancer after a three year battle. When she moved here from another State following her divorce, she had not had health insurance for some time and had to delay surgery following the upsetting diagnosis- which came just two months after she arrived- in order to have her insurance... (more)