My husband and I are hard-working, middle class Americans with no health care. I am 53, my husband is 47. We both have health issues that should be addressed on a regular basis, but we rarely go to the doctor, dentist, or eye care specialist because we simply can't afford it. I believe as taxpaying citizens, we should be allowed decent care. I fully support President Obama's bedrock requirements.

My husband and i are stake holders in a start up. With the tight cashflow that has come with this venture, health insurance has not been an option for us. Lucky for us, the state of Washington has covered our children, but we continue for almost 10 years now open to the liabilities of not having health insurance coverage. We have been lucky to have made it this far, but it is clear to me others small busineses may not have been able to survive. Strong health care plan means giving a strong foundation for small businesses. -- Audra

I strongly believe that our country should provide basic health care for all of it's legal citizens. I am part of a family of 5 people. My Life Partner and I do not have health care through an employment situation. We have three young children in our home which we provide for and raise. As a low-income family, we are able to occassionally afford a doctor apt, but, if an emergency or any significant health problem came up, it would criple our family. I also strongly believe in PREVENTION. I feel the public should learn how to participate... (more)

I have no health care I'm 48 yrs old worked my whole life and only once did I use welfare 23 yrs ago. I'm affaid now if I get hurt or ill I have no recourse. Cobra to high of cost and mine from what I understand is low at $435.00 per month who can afford that with unemployment coming in at 2000.00 with house payment, and bills there's no way. You have got to start with the poeple that are getting rich from sick & hurt people, lawyers, doctors and insurance companies, I'm sure you already know this. One more thing about the Cobra, I quit... (more)

My wife is 62, she was laid off in May 2008. She has used COBRA to continue her health insurance. The cost is 4 times what she paid as an employee. When the COBRA expires she will need more coverage. The lowest quote she has been able to find doubles her current costs. Her unemployment will eventually expire, making it difficult to pay for insurance. She will not be able to qualify for Medicare until age 65, leaving a gap of almost two years without affordable coveage. With advancing age and no coverage, we could be wiped out financially if... (more)

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1997 and used tranditional medicine to cope with the symptoms of the disease. The medicine used for people with this disease costs an average of $1,000 a month. I have since chosen an alternative route, using homeopathy and naturopathy to minimize symptoms. Because of this I have been symptom free for 3 years now, but not all of alternative medicines are covered by health care. We need to allow all people to use any medicine, whether tranditional or alternative. Alternative medicine is just as, or... (more)

We have health care at a cost of $1,442 a month, and we feel fortunate to have it. It goes up every year at a rate that is significantly higher than the inflation rate and we fear that we may be priced out if health costs continue to escalate.

My husband had/has congestive heart failure. We did not have insurance when he became ill and without knowing we continued to go to doctors and emergency and giving whatever we could to the doctors and hundreds for meds. they always said bronchitus and sent him home. We had insurance for less than 48 hours when he had to be hospitalised and nearly died. Until we could pay in full he was fine and when we could pay they would save his life. Medicine is only available to those with money and insurance. I know pay 800.00 dollars a month to... (more)

As a teacher I am fortunate to have decent health care, however, the costs go up and up each year. My copay for just my coverage is over $300 per month. Treatment and prescription costs have nearly double in the past 2 years. I have chronic autoimmune disease and heart disease and receive treatment that costs nearly 8,000 3-5 times per year. I fear i will never be able to retire because I won't be able to afford the premiums,or treatment IF I am able to get a policy that accepts prior conditions. Additionally, our two sons (29 & 25) are... (more)

I have been quite ill for the past two years and am still undiagnosed. It is some kind of auto immune disease. I had to quite my job and cannot work. My husband recently lost his job and has no healthcare insurance. I do have Cobra insurance, but it is $400 a month which has been very difficult to pay,but I must have it for diagnostic testing and prescriptions.

two years ago my son broke his tibia snowboarding at Whistler (Canada). He had to be taken to hospital via ambulance, had x-rays, complete exam, and had the bone set. There was a charge of $750 for the whole thing, his being a US citizen. When he returned to Seattle, with his premium level health insurance, he said his care was inferior to what he received in Canada. He is now a firm believer in what single payer health care can be....affordable and excellent!!

Even though I have Medicare, it is truly difficult to find a primary care physician who will accept it due to low reimbursement rates. I have chronic high blood pressure and acid reflux which require monitoring.

Health care was very important to my husband and me after we had our daughter in Spring of 2007. To keep our health benefits from my job I had to stay on part-time, and since daycare is very expensive we were losing money every month for me to work. I would much rather have stayed home to raise our daughter myself, but health care was far more expensive. We are fortunate now that my husband's company decided to subsidize some of the costs for our health plan and I am able to stay home with our children, but we are still paying a great deal for... (more)

too many elderly have to use multiple sources to obtain their health care. the cost of medications are too high.

My husband lost his job 2 years ago. His current job does not provide health care benefits in the US. Our Cobra benefits ran out 6 months ago so we currently have no health care coverage. It makes me very nervous since I am a breast cancer survivor and we are both over 55. We need quality, affordable health care!!!!

Because my husband was in the Navy for 20 years and I am disabled at 59 I have both Medicare and Tricare for Life. My medication is in the range of approx. $3.00 per Rx. I should have few complaints, right? Wrong! The dental care is non existent with medicare and pretty bad with Tricare. God help you if you need dentures. That's me. So when you talk about health care reform don't forget that the health of the body starts in the mouth. Thank you

My father had prostate cancer surgery and radiation / hormone therapy a few years ago. Outlook was very good. Now the cancer has returned and neither surgery or conventional radiation treatment are options according to doctors. Then, a miracle! There is an option for him! Called Cyber Knife, this targeted radiation has a very high chance of success, costs are estimated at $100,000 for treatment. Dr. writes letter and submits pre-auth to Medicare - and is denied. In Georgia, we're told it would be approved by Medicare... In addition,... (more)

When I was let go from my job because of medical reasons I was also let go from my medical insurance. Without sounding like a cry baby, I was treated very shabbely by both my employer and by S.S. Finally after applying 3 times to S.S assistance I contacted Binder & Binder and in 3 mo. they finally got that assistance for me. This all took 3 yrs. Now I do have coverage but am still paying off the debt accrued during the time I was not covered by anyone. Thank you for listening. Nikki Russell

Five years ago my husband and I retired a little early, sold our home putting everything in storage and enjoyed traveling around the country in our RV. After a few years we returned to the Pacific Northwest to volunteer our time at Oregon State Parks, Red Cross and other charitable groups purchasing a home three days prior to the stock market dropping 800 points (coincidentally on 9/11) and the following cascade of the exposure of financial manipulation, deceit, and greed exacerbated by the absence of adequate governmental oversight and... (more)

My husband, Ray, has been without healthcare insurance for the past 6 months. Three yrs ago he was laid off and went on Cobra (Regence BC/BS) and paid his own premium for 18 months. At the end of the 18 months, because he had taken another job, he was forced to enroll in the new company's healthplan, Healthnet. Then one year ago he was again laid off. Because the healthplan he was on was specific to only Oregon where his company was based and because we live in WA state his medical coverage was terminated even though all his doctors are in... (more)