I hosted a presidential debate viewing party at my home last year prior to the election. At one point the debate turned to health care reform, and out of curiosity, I polled the room with the following question, "How many of you have health insurance right now?" Of the 16 adults in the room (most of whom had full-time jobs and a few had been seeking employment for some time), only TWO of us raised our hands. It's just unbelievable to me that the cost of health coverage has gotten so extreme that good employers who would like to... (more)

I have a Canadian girlfriend and have observe her and her family easily and readily access quality health care that would have been inaccessible for reasons of lack of coverage or adequate coverage for most Americans and would have bankrupted most. It is moral bankruptcy for this country not to have universal health care that is easily and readily available and affordable. Sure Canadians and all others have complaints and our conservative interests use such horror stories out of context and exaggerated to maintain the status quo here, to... (more)

My husband and I are retired after working 40+ years. We paid all of our debts and downsized before retiring. We have a modest retirement income and over half of our monthly income is spent paying for health insurance, deductibles and co-pays and we do not even have any high cost prescriptions or any serious illnesses. It is not acceptable that Americans who can pay a little (we are not rich-we make under 35,000 a year) are paying so much for health care and not being able to enjoy retiremnet or even afford to take care of normal everyday... (more)

My granddaughter, four years old, has intractable epilepsy meaning no mediction stops the seizures. She has had her left temporal lobe removed in hopes of curtailing her seizures. Her medical expenses are beyond imagine. Her parents are now in a position they cannot make any life move for fear they will never be able to get their daughter insurance again. In America, we should not hold its citizens in virtual indentured servitude simply due to the fear of lost of health care coverage. It's wrong! We need to make health care coverage ... (more)

Reform without a single-payer option is unlikely to work - corporate greed can't be effectively controlled or regulated (see financial industry). Rather waste a little $$ on federal bureaucracy that have huge amounts of $$ siphoned out of the system by insurance or pharma or advertising etc corporations.

The spiraling costs of health care will surely tear down our nation before any outside force does...we need real change now!

I spent five years paying off a medical bill for the treatment of a sinus infection and common allergies -- and that was WITH coverage! Everyone deserves health care, and it does no good unless it's affordable. Health insurance payments that do nothing but provide coverage for catastrophic events keeps me from putting away hard-earned dollars each month. And, on top of it, I'm still paying for all my health care expenses: routine doctor visits, prescriptions, and everything in the way of preventative care. If other countries can offer their... (more)

I have recently been treated for breast cancer. I was fully insured, but still incurred out-of-pocket expenses of almost $28,000. I am now having to pay $655 per month for individual health insurance. I realize the power of the insurance lobbies; please stand up to them and all the other special interest groups who are determined to prevent health care reform.

I am 61 and feel like i will never be able to retire because of the high cost of insurance.My wife is 60 and she is in the same boat. I favor a single payor option for all Americans.

Please, we need to get the insurance industry out of health care. They cause so much dread and fear in Americans' lives. My story is mild compared to others, but it is one example. Being in perfect health, I recently tried to switch to a more affordable plan with more coverage, but I was denied unless I signed two waivers. One waiver was for not having to cover me for "phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins or related conditions... or complication thereof." This waiver was because I had brought up removing a few unsightly... (more)

My Mother raised three children on her own after being divorced from my father who was a Navy lt. Commander. Child support was problematic for the single Mom for years, but then it became mute because, my father died in a car accident when I was 16yrs old. My Mom taught piano lessons and was therfore self employed for many years but does not have enough quarters of self employment tax to qualify for Social Security. Since she divorced my father just under 10 yrs of marriage, she does not qualify for "his" social security. Under... (more)

I don't understand why single payer seems to be off the table...or at least seemingly not being considered. I am blessed because I am healthy and have a good employee health care system however I know people who's lives have been ruined because of soaring cost. We must change this system. If it doesn't get done now I don't think it will be done in my life time and what a shame that would be. Amy Zanzig

I am a self-employeed single women with no health insurance. I have worked hard to build a salon/spa and I also bought my own home 3 yrs ago. I have diabetes and also am on thyroid medication. I pay out of my own pocket for 2 insulins, and 3 other perscription medications. My insulin cost went from $86 to $104.00 in one month. Test strips to check blood sugar levels are very expensive also. That is my situation, I am keeping up so far hoping nothing major happens. I hope and pray this congress will hear people like myself and support... (more)

I would like to have the ability to change careers, locations or go back to school. To give up my health care coverage through work to pursue these goals is very difficult. Much of my family has been profoundly affected by the lack of quality affordable health care. Its time to invest in something that works.

I'm not insured. It costs too much. I'm self-employed with 2 employees. I can't cover them either. Who made the employer the golden goose, anyway? Not that I wouldn't like to cover them. Too many people fall through the cracks in an employer provided health system. Fortunately, so far I've been healthy and never had to test the system. But an injury or disease would bankrupt me immediately. I barely get by as it is and it's not for the lack of trying. No one should be denied health care. It is a right. We don't need to earn it. ... (more)

Soon as my kids were over school age they were cut off from my coverage. That doesn't stop them from getting toothaches or needing stitches though. We can't get out of debt 'cause every time we get close there's a broken wrist or a crooked wisdom tooth or two. They all work but nobody seems to offer affordable health insurance any more.

My Wife has arthritis nad can not get health insurance. She has a major medical policy that excludes her condition or any complications due to it. Their deductable is a per incident decutable. So in reality no insurance at all. My sister lives in Canda and has rasied 7 children and has had excellent health care. One child had open heart surgrey and another has had 2 liver transplants.If that happened in USA the whole family would be broke with no assets. Don't tell me that single payer doesn't work. Byron

After paying over $1,200 PER MONTH (for just my husband and me) for health coverage for several years and being told by our insurance company that we were not eligible for a less costly plan, we finally found someone who directed us to a less expensive source. Great right? Well, at $675 per month it does sound like a bargain BUT the plan has paid nothing toward expenses we submit ... even after we've reached our deductible. In our case, we the American public, are getting the short end of the deal while the big insurance companies walk off... (more)

I'm 48yrs young, am a hard working single woman. I am in reasonably good health but at this stage couldn't afford health coverage if my life depended on it. I am fortunate, have not lost my job & have a place to live. I am getting by, BUT if given the chance or opportunity to have an affordable health coverage I would jump all over it. It is when the unexpected hits & when I'll least expect it and once again say if I'd of only been given the chance. Please help me and the millions of other Americans that truley need your help, care... (more)

I'm 56 and essentially uninsurable and was turned down, for a policy in a new state, by my long-time insurance provider even though I had been continuously insured by them for years. I did get some insurance by going back to the university part-time, and I'll be working until I'm 70, but I worry that I won't have the insurance I need to remain a contributing member of the work force for that long.