Health care costs are too high,but even when you have coverage, it seems the game is to find a way to deny your claim rather than to provide coverage that may be due the insured. After paying my monthly premiums,meeting my deductibles my clam was turned down. However the surgery center and anesthesiologist were paid. After over a year of back and forth with United Health Care I gave up. The last straw was when I asked what the MEDICAL REASON for my claim being turned down was I was told I could not get that information,that my Doctor would... (more)

I work with a cognitively disabled population - those cognitive disabilities, totally preventable due to the fact that they are the result of maternal consumption of alcohol when pregnant. These disabilities are Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), partial FAS (pFAS), and alcohol related neurodevelopmental disabilities (ARND). The estimated cost over a lifetime for the provision of medical services and care for a person with one of these alcohol related cognitive disabilities is 2 million dollars. Some say the price tag is higher than that. And, the... (more)

Dear Congress: My husband had a stroke. No health insurance, no way to afford the thousands of dollars just to go to the hospital. I had horrible cataracts in both eyes, and because we had to spend $7,000 of our money on my eyes so I could help him, he's going untreated. Oh yeah, give Blackwater, Haliburton and Cheney billions, invade a stupid nonsense country like Iraq, and tell me how you're representing me. We cannot afford health care at all. So don't go around telling me how you're going to mandicate it for us. We CANNOT afford it. ... (more)

On March 18, 2001, my sister Julie and her husband Alex were struck by a hit and run automobile operator while they were riding a motorcycle. Their injuries were quite extensive. Alex's left leg was almost completely severed above the knee and had to be amputated. Julie suffered substantial injuries to her left leg which, over the years, required her to undergo approximately 50 surgeries. They had medical insurance through a group policy with Alex's employer. Sometime after the accident, Alex's employer switched carriers. Julie's two primary... (more)

As a single mother I became unemployed and was not able to maintain my insurance due to outrageous COBRA costs. I attempted to purchase independent medical coverage and was repeatedly denied due to a pre-existing condition (i was cured 9 years ago and symptom free). As a result I was unable to see a doctor for any reason-as the costs were prohibitive. More importantly, i also was afraid of seeking medical care for fear of being diagnosed with anything which may have prevented me from getting insurance through a future employer. I the sole... (more)

Many of my neighbors in this small Nevada community have no health care coverage because they cannot afford the premeiums required by employers for coverage. Illness may mean loss of employment.

I suffer from PTDS, Bipolor disorder, Fibromyalgia, lupas and am a stroke survivor. Without the proper health care insurance I would not be able to afford my medicines that I take and I am on 11 different meds everyday. So please keep working on and keep the health care that I need affordable.

I am a diabetic. The costs of testing supplies and medication are astronomical - especially for someone without health insurance. This needs to change for all Americans.

After working at a job that paid a portion of my health care I now find myself without a job or hospitalization. In a few months I will be 65 and on medicare but I can't afford to pay 375/month now that I am unemployed. I resigned to take a job with the census which I was assuree would be months not less than the three weeks I worked. I wish there was an afforadable choice so I can continue my perscriptions but it doesn't exist so I go without my drugs and just skipped my doctors appointments.

my parent's health care coverage was provided by the steel mill my father worked for. for nearly 50 years he gave his life for the mill and the union. when the steel industry in this country went virtually belly up. my parents lost almost all coverage and my mother had to have extensive surgery for a tumor. luckily, she survived. however, the costs of the surgery nearly bankrupt my parents, having to cash in 401k's and ira's to pay the bills. after 5 years, things are nearly back to normal, but if it wasn't for the investments made on behalf... (more)

TO OUR GREAT PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA,MICHELLE OBAMA AND THE ADMINISTRATION I SAY "THANK YOU". WE FINALLY HAVE SOMEONE IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT IS HONEST,HAVE HIGH MORALS,EDUCATED,WISE AND CONCERNED ABOUT ALL AMERICANS.HEALTH CARE SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE EVERY ONES OBJECTIVE HOW CAN ANYONE OPPOSED THIS GOAL? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WE AS A COUNTRY GENERATE A GDP OF OVER 33 TRILLION DOLLARS EACH YEAR WE SOAK TRILLIONS EACH YEAR INTO THE MILITARY EACH YEAR,WE SPEND TRILLIONS HERE IN VEGAS EACH YEAR BUILDING... (more)

WE NEED HEALTH CARE SO WHEN WE GET SICK WE WONT LOSE ALL OUR SAVINGS TO THE DOCTORS AND SUPER EXPENSIVE HOSPITAL BILLS

my husband and I were convenience store clerks for 14 years, and never had a lick of insurance or health care, due to that fact, we are now suffering from arthritis, we can barely move but we are still working or looking for work. my husband has been out of work since sept. 22, 08, and I am working. I now have health insurance for myself at work, but not for my husband, due to the cost of health care. It seems as though the well off people have all their needs fulfilled, but those of low incomes like myself cannot afford the health care we... (more)

When I was growing up, I had regular check-ups and my mother was able to take us to the doctor when we were sick to rule out anything particularly serious. Our doctor even made house calls when any family member was too ill to go to the office. By the financial standards of that time frame (the 60's) we were not rich - we weren't even comfortable - we were POOR. But if the doctor thought we shouldn't be out in the weather, he came to us! Now I can't remember the last time I had a thorough check-up - it's been decades. I have no health... (more)

I have no story any different than any other American.... I just believe health care is NOT a privilege, but a right and most of all a necessity! My husband is a retail pharmacist and he sees the people who can't afford to go to the doctors or E R...... I also believe that HEALTH CARE SHOULD NOT ...I REPEAT NOT A PROFIT MAKING BUSINESS... I am offended that insurance companies can refuse any kind of treatment, test or whatever, just for the sake of their investors and profit! It is disgusting... ps.. my husbands company does not care about... (more)

I am a Vietnam era veteran, so I have medical coverage. I have a daughter and grandchildren who don't have health coverage. The state they live in only allows treatment for medical emergencies. We live in a great country that has advanced medical possibilities. What good are advanced medical possibilities if the people can't get basic medical treatment ? I have many friends and relatives who don't have medical coverage either. Millions of people are out of work. Why can't we find a way to build a new type of medical system ? Does... (more)

I am a sole practitioner whose primary clients are indigent criminal defendants. Obviously, I have to obtain my own health care and this last year have added the cost of my assistant's health care to the cost of running my business. The cost for both my health care and my assistant's health care goes up approximately every 4 to 6 months. Moreover, the programs don't even cover all of the costs associated with testing and office visits. It is ridiculous to pay as much money as is required to then have to pay sometimes all of the cost... (more)

My husband had a broken wrist and a crushed finger on the opposite hand. Within that same year he had two surgeries on the wrist as an out-patient. The hospital cost was $24,000 and this did not include the doctor, the anesthesiologist or the pre & post op prescriptions. Both operations together was less than 5 hours in duration. $24K is more than some people earn in one year. Because both hands were in a cast for months and we had no other form of income we were also forced to take an early retirement. When I consider the total cost... (more)

I am a high school teacher. One of the largest problems in our school is substance abuse. When parents find out they have a child who needs help to recover from drug abuse, they also find few programs to help and the ones that are available are expensive. Many of my students are from low income families where money goes for food and shelter with little or none left over. Our children are our future yet we neglect them. How does this fit with our American ideals?

bueno hase casi7 anos que me vine de san diego cal. a las vegas nv. me he sorprendido tanto con el sistema del seguro medico del que nos veneficiamos como una 400,000 personas miembros de la union 226 los cuales peleamos en la campana para elegir al sr. Ovama duramente en contra de muchos que no creihan en ovama como las millonarias companias pues nosotros si creimos en el senor ahora presidente el estubo en muchas ocaciones en la union con los miembros y, bueno esprero que lo que agan con el programa del seguro medico no salgamos afectados... (more)