I can offord to cover my daughter but not both my daughter and myself.

self employeed no family, 61 yr. always in good health, pay $350 per month, and it never covers anything that i do have done, blood tests, exams, minor stuff.

My husband reinjured his rotator cuff while off work, but even though it was originally a work related injury he was not covered by Workman's Comp and so we had to pay for the surgery ourselves and he was out of work, which set us behind on our mortgage payments. Plus, we accrued a 2000 medical bill as the insurance only covered 80%.

As a single parent of four children, no child support, and no health care for me or my children, I spent many years praying that nothing serious would happen to me or my children. I wondered at the time (and still do) why a rich person's child was more deserving of health care than my sweet girls. Luckily, I got through those times and earned an education without any serious injuries or illnesses. Not everyone is so fortunate. I now have a daughter who is dealing with the same situation. It is shameful that the richest nation in the world... (more)

Although I am currently fortunate enough to have job that provides a health care program I want to live in a country that ensures access to quality affordable health care to all.

I am a Registered Nurse (Master's Degree - worked on Ted Kennedy's health care reform in the 1980s). When I worked in the ER, I started keeping count. I would meet at least one person a week who lost their house because of health care costs. I now call people with chronic diseases at home. Almost on a daily basis I speak with patients WHO ALL HAVE HEALTH CARE and cannot pay for their medications, miss MD appts because they can't afford the co-pays and refuse to call an ambulance with potential life-threatening health care problems because... (more)

As an educated professional with an MBA, I always thought I would have a career & health insurance. After all, I have always contributed to society as a volunteer, made charitable contributions, saved for a rainy day and paid my taxes. I AM THE NEW FACE OF AMERICA after being unemployed last Oct 2008. Thankfully, always living below my means, saving and debt free, except for my house payment. Currently, my PT job pays 69% less than my old salary. Fortunately, health insurance is available with my PT job. Unfortunately, my health care... (more)

My health care cost keep me from buying nutrious food, or having medical check-ups when I should. My son is uninsured, which is ridiculous when we live in the USA. My 86 yr. old mother who worked all her life as a nurse, refuses to go the hospital due to the cost of health care. I'm approaching 60, and I foresee that I will always work to have enough money to pay my health insur. We should be ashamed

I have been a type I diabetic for most of my life. As an adult, I have spent years suffering under the term "pre-existing condition", paying outlandish amounts of money to insurance companies in return for no benefits, or have been uninsured and forced to pay out-of-pocket for insulin, a drug that keeps me alive, out of my own pocket. It's time for this to stop. It's time to take control out of the hands of the insurance companies and put it back in the hands of America's people. Yes, we can do it.

I have a good retiree health care plan paid for by a huge school district (taxpayers) near D.C. I am worried about my fellow citizens. Since these thousands of people have no health care and no relationship with insurance companies, I beg that they not be given into the clutches of the insurance cos. This is a wonderful opportunity to start fresh. Please set up a single payer (large pool) system into which tax dollars go to be dispersed by the government - like Medicare. I would join the expanded Medicare plan myself by paying my premium... (more)

Seventeen years ago I broke my back. At the time I had private health insurance. Everybody involved in my care (doctors & therapists) recommended that I go to Craig Hospital in Denver for rehab. The insurance company fought it tooth and nail. They kept throwing around terms like "cost effective" and "medical necessity". I was finally forced to get a lawyer and threaten the insurance company with a lawsuit before they agreed to cover my hospitalization at Craig. And still they questioned virtually everything... (more)

I got laid off in October of 2008, for the 2nd time in 2 years and lost my health care coverage along with my income! I was also diagnosed at the same time with type2 diabetes and a thyroid problem. I don't have the money for doctor visits and blood test like I should be getting on a regular basis. Just this week it was a choice between food to feed my family, paying bills or going to the doctor? Which do you choose? I also am in need of Dental care which I really can't afford. My husband works for a small company and when he was offered... (more)

First of all let me say that I am in a fortunate place right now. My husband and I both work full time and have healthcare plans. However I do not look far to see my sons at 21 and 22 without healthcare. My mother who pays $1000 a month just for perscriptions. To many people look at the world selfishly because they are in a good place now and do not look around them. I am concerned for those not as fortunate as me. I also realize that with all of the corporate cuts I could be in their shoes.

I hve had a pain in my right side for over a year now and I cannot afford a colonoscopy. It may be nothing but I also know that the second most common form of cancer related deaths in this country is Colon Cancer. I may very well be fine, but I live in a country where I should not have to wake up everyday wondering because, although there is a way to ease my constant worry, it is beyond me financially. Its not like I dont work, its that I have my own business that I work and run alone, so there really is no affordable option to... (more)

I was denied coverage for several years due to complications from a surgery that was not my error. I am also self employed and could not obtain health care coverage with affordable premiums.

I was laid off from a lucrative paying salaried position with great health care benefits last August. My family moved to my husbands insurance during my eight months of unemployment and racked up over $4,000 in medical bills from day-to-day living situataions with our children, myself and my husband. The kids had several office visits with pnemonia and strep this year at a minimum of $80 per visit, I had breast cancer scare and needed lab work and a mamogram. I took a 150% pay cut just to go back to work with a company that had decent... (more)

My health care story comes from both personal stand point, and a professional stand point. At one point in my life, I worked a low end job, that did not provide health insurance. At 19, I ended up with Pancreatitus. I needed a very expensive hospital stay, and I did not qualify for any assistance. This bill was over $10,000. This was impossible to pay off. I was struggling to pay rent, daycare and utilities, let alone a very large bill. Later on in my life, I went back to school to become a social worker. I started off as an Ombudsman, where I... (more)

We are fortunate that we have decent health care through my employer. However in order to keep my family of 3 healthy we spent $6500.00 out of pocket as well as another $300 per month to cover my share of monthly insurance cost for a total of over $10000 which is almost 1/6 of my take home pay. We did not have any "major" health problems either. I don't know how others do it. I am not sure how we will do it if cost continue to rise.

I thought I had good health insurance and was extremely lucky that my employer paid for my coverage. That was until I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My 20 percent put my family in debt for $25,000.00.

I was treated for breast cancer 5 years ago, and at the time had insurance that covered everything. My job has become more and more at risk (I work for a high tech company) and I fear losing my job and not being able to get or afford healthcare on my own due to a pre-existing condition. I am williing to work hard and take care of myself and my family, but one bad illness could bankrupt us and leave us out on the street. It shouldn't be this way....