I do not have health insurance and can not afford it at all. I am self-employed and even the supposed "low-cost" plans are totally unacceptable. Thank you!

I no longer have health care. I resigned from my position at CSULB; after numerous attempts of a promotional opportunity. Unfortunately I was unable to afford COBRa. I only see a doctor or dentist in emergency situations. Which is expensive even at a low cost care clinic. I went in recently to a LBCH; saw a doctor after a 5 hr wait, was prescribed an antibiotic, and it cost me A$300.00. I haven't had a permanent job in approximately 5 years. I have worked temporary, but not full time, and at a low pay rate. Therefore I can't afford... (more)

My fiance and I have been diagnosed bipolar. This means that he is uninsurable and I will be if I ever lose Medicare. Right now, insurance companies are cheating doctors and the general public. In order for hospitals and clinics to function they have to make this money up somewhere and it comes out of the pockets of the self-pays, of which my fiance is one. This means that more people are unable to self-pay, further burdening the system. I would fall into that category if I lost Medicare. Please put a stop to this broken spiral and an... (more)

I don't have a personal health care story however; I express high importance and support on this issue. There are many Americans who are dying from illness because they were uninsured or they were unemployed. I am not advocating for free health care (though I support such a measure), I believe there should be affordable or streamline for many Americans who are uninsured.

I am a single male, 58 years old, diagnosed with be coming HIV+ over 2 years ago. I was already unable to afford health care insurance because the company at that time did not include that as part of our employment benefits, due to my age making the premiums well above anything I could possibly afford by myself. Then after my diagnosis, now having this particular pre-existing condition, it is almost impossible for me to get insurance, let alone being able to afford it if even I could get it. Fortunately I am enrolled in a program that helps... (more)

I am a respiratory therapist practicing in a county hospital in greater Los Angeles. On countless occasions I have seen patients discharge too early before recovery is complete. Just this past weekend I treated a patient who stated, "I can't afford to be here". I had another patient whom was on a ventilator remove his breathing tube and leave AMA because he feared loosing his job.

My girlfriend works part time and has no healthcare insurance. I believe the reason she is not a full time employee is because the business is trying to limit healthcare expenses. I have a precondition and am scared to change jobs or start my own business due to insurance and healthcare concerns. Thank you Mr. President for taking head-on these types of issues that are importaint to average Americans. And bless you for not putting them off because "there are more pressing issues." I grow to respect and appreciate you more everyday!

One of my good friends suffers from asthma. She drives to Mexico to get medication she "thinks" she needs which scares me, since she is not getting any better. She does not qualify for free insurance because she makes too much money, she does not get insurance with her job and she is struggling to make ends meet with her family and cannot afford her own insurance. I worry about her always.

My family's basic health insurance is all we can afford, and has a $5,000.00 deductible. The premium has increased three times in the year we've had this plan, now nearly equaling our monthly rent. Something has to give!

I have been an educator all my life. As I work with students and families from the inner city of LA, I marvel at their strength and determination; however, many times the challenges that face them are overwhelming. When it comes to health issues, it can be clearly stated that they get in the way of learning more than anything. How can you learn if you are in pain? How can you learn if your mother is hospitalized and your family can't pay for her care? We must learn to love each other. We must learn to take care of each other. If not... (more)

When I lost my job last year, I decided to take a big step and go into business for myself. Something I didn't account for was the outrageously high cost of private medical insurance. As a 27 year old woman, I've heard countless people say that my demographic is just complaining, that we could easily afford insurance, but simply opt out. I am a living example of how wrong that myth is. I have chronic asthma, which means there is no way I can find affordable private insurance. I shouldn't be faced with the choice between buying my... (more)

My story is simple, I am a healthy American woman who eats right, exercises, goes to the doctor once a year for a check up and twice a year for a teeth cleaning, and yet each year my premium goes up becaue I'm stuck paying for all of the people who DON'T HAVE HEALTH CARE. I may be healthy, but I'm not rich. I am self employed and thus have to pay for my own insurance.It's not fair that I have to pay more and more each year. I'm afraid that when and if something does goes wrong, I will no longer have the ability to meet my monthly payment. ... (more)

Here is a copy of a letter I sent to Blue Cross Blue Sheild, It is still not a resolved issue. I am getting late payment notices from the physician's office. February 10, 2009 Appeals Committee GCIU 5 Gateway Center 5th Floor 60 Boulevard Of The Allies Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1219 USA To The Appeals Committee: My name is Kevin Cole. My CareFirst ID # is 903537689. This letter is in regards to claim # 8343W12179 Last November I experienced an emergency medical situation, and decided to go to the emergency room. I searched the web for... (more)

I am a senior, and this stage of my life I am still in good health. My health care insurance is more than $400 per month. My mother passes away almost four years ago after being totally bankrupt from medical cost.

Our family spends so much on health insurance and medication that we have to endure sub-standard living conditions. We live with the constant threat of being homeless. We are constantly frustrated by the lack of available care, having to wait months for appointments and often having to travel outside of our city for simple tests. The only care we seem to be able to access is the emergency room and drugs. We're fed up!

Dear President Obama: Heart disease is the number one killer of women. I had a heart attack at 46. On that day, in the voice and eyes of my daughter, I learned that what I do not only impacts me, but also the lives of those I hold so dear. It was a rather abrupt way to learn about the consequences of my smoking, too much fat in my diet and no exercise. I learned the hard way but it was a re-start button for my future. Now, a heart patient for almost 20 years, I still struggle daily on keeping the balance of medication, making better choices... (more)

With no health insurance of any kind, I pay cash all medical dental needs. I just spent $141.00 just to get my teeth cleaned! It's outragious. This is more than triple what it cost only 5 years ago, same dentist same service.

I spent my entire career in healthcare, HMO's, medical groups,and hospitals working with the financial and computer system requirements for our current system. It is costly to administer, providers practice defensive medicine to protect themselves, and every insurance company uses a different process and fee schedule for the providers who are providing care. Additionally, insurance companies have difficult underwriting rules for individuals making individual coverage expense, and hard to get even if you can afford to pay for it. All of... (more)

I am blessed with having Kaiser. Public ("socialized") education was critical to the development of our nation. "Public" health is now just as critical. Any plan that doesn't include a government-based option will fail. Period. There is no society in the world today where a for-profit system has worked!

I was lucky NOT to have insurance several years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer. Instead of waging war with an insurance company I was put on a state program and received excellent health care. In the subsequent years I have had insurance and bills to prove it! The insurance industry is just like a casino. They exist and are profitable because they take in more money than they pay out. The insurance industry lobbies with monies they earn from denying medical services. Shameful. Single payer. Socialized medicine. What... (more)