My husband, daughter, and I do not have health insurance. We had to let our policy expire because we could no longer afford the premium. I am doing without a medication I need and haven't had an annual exam for the last couple of years. I contrast my life with those of my sisters who live in Canada and wonder how such a backwards healthcare system as ours can have any justification to exist. Healthcare as a for-profit industry is inhumane and is one of the factors in our collapsing economy.

There is absolutely no reason that our country should neglect nearly 49 million people who have no health care. There is no reason why we need insurance companies acting as middlemen extracting billions of dollars for essentially just doing paperwork. Health care should be a right- not an extortion for profit. Medical schools should be free to those who qualify- the physicians and nurses should be allowed to pay back their tuition by providing public service in clinics.

My wife and I are both retired. At most our benefits will increase around 2% each year. It doesn't take a math whiz to figure out how spiraling health care costs will eat up that increase and more. It is time to make some much needed changes in the US health care system.

I am a 3rd year (stage 3) Rectal Cancer survivor (thus far) and advocate for expanded rectal cancer screening, education and research. If my cancer had been caught earlier through a relatively simple procedure (sigmoidoscopy) it would have saved my Health Care Provider (Kaiser), tens of thousands of dollars worth of surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy treatments. It also would have kept me working productively rather than being a net looser in the system. Effective baseline screening for most Americans at age 50 would save Billions in... (more)

Hello, I am a single woman self employed that works from my home. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, I successfully defeated the disease and finished my treatments in January of 2006. Since then I have lost my insurance covereage and have only been able to go to the doctor one time for a check up. I cannot afford private insurance and one visit to my doctor and testing puts me in debt for a year or more. Being a cancer survivor it is even harder and more expensive to acquire health coverage. I am left in a situation where I am scared... (more)

As a small business owner, I am self-insured. My current rate is $608/mo with $750 deductible. I have received notice that my rates will go up again July 1, 2009. This policy covers only me, a healthy 55 year old woman. My 22 year old son works full time, but has no insurance. He is working hard to build a good credit rating so he can have a financial future. My great fear is that an infection or accident could land him in the hospital for a few days and ruin all of that. I grow weary of hearing the "haves" object to change... (more)

I prefer that we have a discussion on universal single payer health care for everyone. I get social security payments; that system works very well. Let's just expand medicare and be done with this.

My health problems require close monitering and several prescriptions.My sister died without proper care because Medicare did not cover her needs.I am frightened for myself and husband,because we are entering the time of our life,that special care will be needed.My daughters' husband had surgery and they were close to losing everything and being homeless.Americans should ALL be insured.There is too much stress on us! Give us some relief like the Banks got with our money!I feel at times to live in another country,where they care for their... (more)

I am a single 60 year old woman. I still work, but do not have health care provided by my employer, even if I were to pay it myself. My only option is individual health care insurance. The coverage is both expensive and almost worthless. When I injured my knee several years ago, I was offered the option of surgery, or to let it heal on its own. It has healed, but my medical history shows it as a surgery that should have happened, so I was declined insurance by almost every company. Fortunately Oregon has a equired "Portability... (more)

don't have any health insurance. don't see doctors. had to go to mexico to have my teeth removed and a bone graft done. moving there in a couple months. this country is racist. We are not beyond this. i am white but it breaks my heart. please make reparations to descendents of slaves.

friends and family have no health insurnace and will put off their care to pay bills to survive.

After I left my job to start my own business I was denied health insurance by 2 companies because of minor health issues, some of which had been resolved. I am healthy and because I am a small business owner, have great incentive to maintain my health. After being denied health insurance my options were limited to the Oregon State Insurance Pool or COBRA. Both options forced me to pay higher premiums and reduced my choice regarding the types of insurance plans I could chose from. In addition, I am a psychologist who provides outpatient... (more)

I am 63 years old and my husband is 57. We both have chronic conditions that require a great deal of medical care but we often skip the care we need because we can't afford the medical bills. The only insurance we can be accepted for is the Oregon Insurance Medical Pool and the premiums are over a thousand dollars a month. I am self-employed and my husband has been out of work for a year. I don't know how much longer we can keep paying the outrageous premiums plus a $1,500 a year dedutable and 20% co-pay. Please...Help us.

We are fortunate enough to have quality health care for our family, however, our trusted childcare provider does not have insurance for herself or her husband and their four children have limited state resource health care. They are not able to choose their own doctor outside of the provider network and are not able to access any alternative providers like chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopaths, etc. For a family that sacrifices so much to be able to raise their family and help others to care for their children, it doesn't seem fair.

I live in Oregon where presently there is NO State heath plan for those without insurance it is only open to children. I have severe medical needs that have been on hold for 2 years because I am very low income and no Dr or hospital will see me. I need a cancer checkup and have not been able to have one for 2 years I am scared of what might be wrong with me now. I feel that we need this passed badly so everyone can get check ups and health care. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pass heathcare for everyone . thank you. Amy Wilbur MIlwaukie, OR

My wife had stomach pain and we went to an ER they did not do an MRI because we had no coverage (Union Health Plan with Employer cancelled). Instead they delayed the proper testing a couple of days leaving my wife in serious pain. When they did finally did the Mri and corrected the the problem with surgery the bill was $40,000.00. Now the state is refusing to allow my wife to drive until they are paid.

I am more fortunate than many of my friends, I worked a long time for a good company and got to keep their group health insurance after retirement in addition to my medicare coverage BUT the copay for my ms medication runs 200.00 per month and that is for just one medication others run 70.00... so even with insurance it eats up the majority of my social security and small pension (did I mention I'm divorced and still making mortgage payments too? I count my blessings for what I do have, just wonder what life would be like for my friends who... (more)

My name is Ben Cook. I am a 32 year old Geologist. During the market crashes last fall, the small firm of Engineers and Geologists that I worked for was, as were so many others, forced to cut their staff to bare bones just for the survival of the company. Even though I had 5 years of solid experience with them and a bit of seniority, to no fault of my own or theirs, I was out of work and it resulted in not only a loss of income but a loss of health care benefits they had provided. For the first time, and against my will I was forced to go... (more)

Being a pharmacist, I have seen to many people forced to choose between their medicine or food. It both disturbs and saddens me to see people in that situation. That is why I am fully behind President Obama's push for health reform in this country. Health care is truly a God given right. I am going to give an example. A very close friend, who has prostate cancer AND has insurance recently called me. The medication that he takes costs $575.00 a MONTH. His insurance would only pay for the medication for 4 months out of every year. This... (more)

US Healthcare insurance is killing us. We cannot afford to pay these premiums. You MUST help us.