I have had three jobs shot out from under me in the last 10 years. My wife has cancer and my current health care is barely adequate to attend to her needs. One more health care setback and she may be finished. We need affordable health care NOW!

I am 62 years old and after being married for 36 years my husband decided to leave. I am a school bus aide and there is no way I can afford, on my own health insurance. I am paying for my daughter's health insurance which is $245/monthly. If my husband does not pay for my health insurance, I will not be insured. At this stage of my life, it is very scary not to have health insurance, although I am healthy, you never know what will happen.

I'm a long time survivor of AIDS. When I was infected, there were no drugs to treat AIDS and I was told that I would probably have, at best, five years to live. Well, I'm still here, due to the medication and treatment that evolved. I am grateful. But that medication and the cost of my healthcare is expensive. VERY expensive. I lost my private healthcare, had to go on disability and am now on a Medicare Advantage plan. I am aware of the back door deals and horse trading of the special interest groups to get the Medicare Modernization Act... (more)

I actually have 2 stories to share. <1> I am 59 years old and my single indemity policy is now 1587.00 a month! My 88 yr old dad pays part of it for me because I can not go on a cheaper plan due to the fact I take many medications for a chronic health condition I have and I cannot afford the expensive medications without this kind of plan.....if I changed plans I would have to pay for medications out of pocket and that would be more than my health care insurance is!! This is ludicrous....I thought life was supposed to get better as we... (more)

I was employed as a retail manager last year with a dental plan that covered $1500 a year. I went and got my wisdom teeth removed and a root canal redone. I had to come out of pocket with over $1000, I still have a balance and the root canal still has a temporary filling a year later I have no more money and now work part time with minimal pay. I called the local clinic for help and they have no available appointments. They said they will call me.

I live in an over 55 community. This year my neighbor who is widowed and 80 years old, lost her health insurance because the Ford Motor Company, for whom her husband worked, decided that they would no longer pay retirees spousal insurance. This man gave his life to Ford so that his family would be taken care of. It was a promise they made when they hired him. I think this should be a crime. What is she supposed to do at 80 years old, Get a job? I don't think so.

It's very depressing when I or my husband can't get the meds we need because of outrageous pricing! My ancestors were founders of Danbury Conn. and Southhold, LI...upon migrating from Nottingham, England centuries ago, and if they were still alive, would be appalled over the current healthcare system! Anyone that tries to knock your plan down, Mr. President, has but one agenda, and we all know what that is! They need to shut their vile mouths! God bless you!

As a pastor, I meet "walk-ins" seeking help with food, shelter, transportation, prescriptions, utilities, etc. I don't believe one of them has ever said they DID have health insurance. In addition, my own adult children, and those of many of my friends and congregants, do not have health insurance during the time between leaving parental or college coverage and employee coverage as late as their 30's. I know people who are "working poor" who cannot afford important prescriptions related to their Medicaid chemo... (more)

I absolutely with President Obama that we desperately need health care reform. I am disabled and only get $1,028 a month from SS Disability. I have to pay $524 a month for COBRA which is more than 1/2 my disability payment and my husband, who lost his job, has no healthcare because we cannot afford to pay the $1,048 for both of us. We are living in a very desperate time and are at our wits end. I am not eligible for Medicare until 24 months after they say I became disabled which will be February 2010 but my COBRA runs out in October 2009. ... (more)

I'm a 35 year old single mother from NJ. Both my son and I have been without health insurance for roughly 3 years. Originally I received my health benefits through NJ family care. But once I made 20 grand a year I was kicked off. My son continued to be covered but I had a $40 monthly premium which didn't include any dental. Unfortunately, I couldn't even afford the small fee of $40. My balance grew for a few months before they kicked my son of as well. I guess in some people's eyes, 20 grand is enough to run a household and to provide... (more)

I have "great health care insurance," supposedly.... However, my Husband is a diabetic and I get charged almost $400.00 a month in co-pay for medication between the insulin, needles, blood pressure and cholesterol medications. I can't afford it! That's not counting the Doctor visits! Like I said this is with good health insurance... HELP! What will happen when we retire... which is within the next 5 years for him? Will I be able to afford to retire? I think not! Again HELP

my daughter who is 27 work does not offer health care.She is now unemployed and can not afford to pay for health care because of the high cost,she now can not go to doctors or dentist.My husband is also unemployed so we can not afford to help her.she needs to see a dentist but the cost is to high I hope someone will also work towards affordable dental care as well

My father who has no health care coverage has a serious heart problem, leukemia, and diabetes. One of the pills he needs to take daily, to stay alive is over $400 per prescription. I think this is RIDICULOUS. We need AFFORDABLE health care that is available for EVERYONE.

I have no job. I have no healthcare plan. I might have medicare, but I can't afford to use it. I have had several experiences where all I was offered were procedures that Medicare would cover and that didn't leave me with much of a choice. I can't afford any of my meds except my prandin. I can't believe we pay so much and so little is covered or that people wait so long for approval that they are lucky if they survive the wait for the approval. Why is it that we have to fight so hard for what we think we have paid for. I recently had... (more)

My daughters girlfriend is employed part-time. She pays about $284 a month for coverage. Most months she barely brings home $400.

As the champion of the free-world, where free everything is the dogma, and inorder to survive in this world we are in now, there is a need to apply some break before we distroy ourselves. Freedom of this freedom of that inot too good without some reflection and that reflection is the present efforts by the President of the United States to bring the needed changes before we begin to destroy our selves.

I have been disabled since 40 yrs. old and am now 55. Thank God I was working for the Postal Service so I I have my Blue Cross but I also I to pay for my Medicare. Without them I will have to pay for all the Medical and Sergical Pyhscisians I see. My medications I have to take to control my left side cost over $1000.00 for 3 months without my mailout through Blue Cross. What if I didn't have it? I can't live with the pain and would not be able to have use of my left arm and leg without them. I don't want to think what I would do if I didn't... (more)

My 55 yr old brother got very sick with a genentic lung desease and almost died a year and half ago. He ran out of his work related health care and after much stress was approved for Medicaid and Disabilty. He went 5 months with no income and my sister and I paid for his Cobra insurance. (That was my money from the stimulus check and my income tax refund.) Nine months ago he got a lung transplant and is doing well with his rehab. A couple of weeks ago he got a notice that he had gotten a "cost of living" raise of $25 in his... (more)

Dear Mr. President, I am like many other Americans who are unemployed and have NO healthcare at all. The ONLY way to help those like myself is to have a government health plan option. The only people who do not want this on the table are those who profit from the so called "healthcare" system. Americans health should NOT be up for sale. The insurance companies. pharmasutical companies and special interest groups have had things their way far too long and they must be stopped for the good of our country and our citizens who are not... (more)

I am employed in a local nursing home so I get to see lots of things that happen first hand. Some of our patients are there for the rest of their life. I see how these people go downhill but I cannot attribute it to the care they are given. I do believe that sometimes they are over medicated which hastens their decrease in well-being and health. I see some of them approach me & tell me they are feeling confused. Now - I don't want to ever have to go to a nursing home, myself, so I try to take excellent care of myself. However, I take... (more)