I spoke with my sister-in-law this week who recently had surgery and relayed to me that for 7 days stay in the hospital was just shy of $60,000. This does not include the other costs anesthesiologist, etc. But thank God she had insurance. What about those that don't and we the taxpayer must assume the costs. It's not fair to us, taxpayers, to have to constantly have less because the cost of medicines, hospitalization, emergency room fees etc. continue to climb. There is no more middle class anymore, we all are either rich or poor. You... (more)

As a retired teacher, the rise of health care insurance has increased drastically and I can barely afford to pay it. Therefore, I am considering returning to work to pay for health care insurance as many of us will have to do.

There was a time i had a sore throat, that came with some fever,i could not bear the pain at night. I had to go to the nearest hospital for treatment. I had an insurance, you know what, a week later the hospital send me $1,650.00 bill. there said my insurace could not cover my treatment.then, the doctor, that cheacked me brougth me a seprate bill of $650.00 for himself.that was the most ridiculous thing i have ever experince in my 44years of living.

My story is about my husband who became ill with pneumonia on Dec 24, 2008 (Christmas Eve) after leaving his job as a truck driver one night just terribly ill we drove to one of the best hospital's in the city Methodist Germantown we was there for hours and hours and he was finally diagnosed with pneumonia instead of being kept overnight for observation he was sent home with a prescription - a week later which was leading up to New Year's Eve we had to go back to the hospital because his fever never went down under 100 and he just never... (more)

I am a very fortunate person for I have an excellent healthcare plan, so when I was diagnosed with early stage breat cancer I knew that I did not have to worry about how I was going to pay for treatment. Looking at the cost of ct scans, hospitalization, surgeries, and the cost of continued medication I worry about those who are not as fortunate and have to chose between treatment and bankrupting their family. Why is my medication so expensive with no generic equivalant? Why is a no contrast ct scan of the head and the neck over $5,000?... (more)

RIGHT NOW I WORK, BUT MY JOB IS TAKING MORE MONEY OUT OF MY SALARY FOR ME AND MY CHILD. I HAVE TO PAY MORE COPAYMENT THAN THE COMPANY DOES, AT THE END OF EVERY PAY PERIOD ABOUT HALF OF MY CHECK IS TAKING AWAY, WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO COVER OTHER BILLS AT HOME. SOME WEEKS MY CHILD AND I GO WITHOUT REAL FOOD, AND NOW IT IS EVEN BAD,I AM NOT WORKING FULL TIME HOURS ANYMORE, BUT I AM EMPLOYED AS A FULL TIME WORKER.

High cost of Prescriptions. Insurance Company's not will to pay for Alternative Medical Practice. Employer's requiring Employees to shoulder more of the premiumn cost and too high deductdibles.

I am here to state that healthcare involving health insurance is very poor. I have went from having "the Best to Settling for Less". Once I couldnt afford to pay the insurance from my job I had to look to getting Tenncare. And even so I had to do so much to try to get it for my children!Having the insurance or no insurance at all doctors offices, clinics, and hospitals tend to discriminate...the kind of insurance you have tends to direct what kind of care you recieve!They will put you all the way to the end of the line and make you... (more)

I recently got a divoice and was drop from my husband insurance and couldn't afford to keep up with my cobra payment which was 475.00 monthly now I'm without insurance on me but my car has insurance does that make sense.

When I was a child growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, my grandmother was a church missionary. Her outreach efforts included visiting sick persons in South Memphis neighborhoods. I cannot forget the sadness in her eyes as she talked about the plight of so many persons who did not have health insurance. She often spoke of the deteriorating condition of an African-American woman dying of breast cancer. This woman had labored hard as a domestic worker all her adult life, but she had no health insurance. When I think of the millions of people... (more)

The cost of health care has risen so much that many of us cannot afford the premiums even with a fulltime job. Small businesses cannot afford the cost and have no access to group plans. Our nation can do better and it is time for the USA to show that we are a grateful and caring nation.

I had surgery on 4/15/2009 for a pelvic mass that was in the last stage before turning into ovarian cancer. I was receiving treatment from the West Clinic in Memphis. A test revealed that I have a enlarged lymth node that may be cancer in the lymth nodes. My biopsy will take place on 5/22/09 but the process couldn't be performed at the West Clinic due to my health coverage . I will be at a good hospital but would have rather had the procedure at the West Clinic with my doctor. I want freedom to choose where and the insurance company shouldn't... (more)

I lost a good job a couple of years ago. Me and my daughter have been without health care for about three years. I found another job, I am not making as much money as I was on my other job, so I cannot afford the insurance that my job offers.

I am not working full time, and God forbid that I get sick. I have had sinustitus and bad colds that I have suffer through. I am also diabetic, which I am controlling with excercise and diet. I have not been able to get a check-up since Dec.07. We need health care that will at least cover a check up twice a year with reduced medication costs. What do other countries that have medical care for their citizens handle those costs?

I fear getting sick. Recently my wife had an emergency gall bladder operation. The hospital would not take us without half of the deductible ($780) which was way out of our comfort zone relative to our income. The deductible is high because it was the only way my employer, a small company, could get us insurance at all.

I pay more than $500 per month for family health insurance coverage with my employer ... and my employer is a hospital !!! I am retired and I work part time and receive pension and social security benefits. This cost is a major family expense and is a great hardship on my family.

Premiums are rising every time I turn around. I don't like having tests run because the laboratory fees are too high. Women dhould have to pay a huge co-pay $92.00 for a mammogram. This is ridiculous!

I am employed in the health care industry and know first hand how difficult many individuals with a chronic disease have limited acces to care. There is a shortage of doctors to treat this specific population, and many hospitals in the area have reduced hospital stays which again interfere with the quality of life for adults with Sickle Cell Disease.

My maternal grandmother deceased from overian cancer and my sister with breast cancer. The cost of medicines and procedures are great, there is a need with out of pocket cost. Also, I beleive that clients who has a doctor of their choosing should be able to maintian that doctor who has become so familiar, until they feel like family because thta doctor has spelled out life from the beginning with you and listen to the family history and shared feeling or opinions cocnerning the situation.

Hi I was diagnosed with sickle cell when I was 7 years old. I have been in and out of hospitals all my life. At age 32 I had to eventually file bankruptcy in 2002 because I couldn't afford to pay 30,000.00 dollars. I worked for the airlines over 14 years, payed insurance cost all that time, just to have lost all my coverage when I lost my Job. We need change!