I am a 22 year old college student who, until recently, worked full time as an assistant manger for McDonalds to support me through my college career. I am currently doing Co-Ops in my field of study. While at McDonalds I was not offered any form of healthcare benefits, and now in my Coops I will not be offered any healthcare either. This was acceptable to me when my father was working, but he has been out of work for approximately 10 months, and me and my brother and father are now all without healthcare. I am fearful every day that something... (more)

I have been a single parent praying at night that my child and I would remain healthy so that I would not have to find the money for a doctors visit. I made to much for medicaid and not enough for insurance on my job. Now I have been diagnosed with a medical condition that if I change jobs my concern is that I will not be to get affordable medical care. Most insurance require a waiting period on previous diagnosis. I watch my elderly church members deciding what medication to get this month or which one to ask the doctor for samples... (more)

I just graduated from college and got married. My husband has an awful health insurance program provided by his employer and we could not afford to add me to it. It is very scary knowing that just one accident will put my husband and I in debt for the rest of our lives. It is crazy that in the United States of America we have so many citizens uninsured or without quality insurance. We are going to have to change the system and I know change is scary but it must be done. I really think we could live in a country where health care is a right... (more)

I have diabetes. When I asked my DR about cheaper meds he seemed to want to argue about how the meds that wer all new and expensive as hell was working. My diabetes is not that bad but after I lost my insurance I stopped going to that money hungry profit motivated punk Dr. So now I have no meds at all and I do not think any insurance company cares about anything except money. At least from what I have seen. Getting the insurance companies to promice they are going to do somethoing is the biggest joke ever. They are going to fall in line becaus... (more)

I work as a Medical Assistant for my husband, he is a Physician. We have so many patients that do not have enough or any Health Insurance at all, we do what we can to help them out, we do a great deal of pro-bono for some of our low-income patients, we provide with Rx assistance as much as we can, we give payment options, etc. but it is sad to see some of them like San Juana, one of our patients, American born, 49 y/o, widow, insulin dependant Diabetic, blind, has a 14 y/o adopted son who is asthmatic and helps as much as he can preparing her... (more)

As a registered nurse, the flaws of our healthcare system are clearly evident. As a paitient advocate I share in the frustation of my patients. Since hurricane Ike in 2008 UTMB Galveston has seen less indigent patients. The burden falls on the local non-profit hospitals in my area. Increased patient to nurse ratio has been a direct result of these burdens. Therefore every patient recieves less personal attention from their healthcare experience.

I am a 46 year old African American male with no health care insurance. I cannot afford it. even while work was good for me in the early part of 2008, I was struggling to pay for it. I am fortunate to be in good health, a non-smoker and no-longer an abuser of alcoholic beverages. However, I am getting older and the premiums are steadily growing out of my reach. Harry

I will share my personal story on health care and why I truly believe in the Presidents program to change it is essential to the survival of America and capitalism. I will start at age nine-teen years old when I am a United States Marine on leave in my home town and get hit by a tow truck form behind in my old truck. Needless to say I wind up hurt I now have to either live in chronic pain or spend $90 a week on a patent drug as this is just the way it is distributed at the time for the most effective non addictive or dependent forming... (more)

I am paying to much for health care.I plain to retire in 2010 and employer tells me that my health care coverage is going to double.so before i retire please do something about this.think you.

My story is probably like every other American....the costs are to high. I recently retired after having worked for 40 years. I cannot afford healthcare insurance, to costly and I cannot afford cobra..again the cost is to high. So now I have to sacrfice my health because I cannot afford the costs. I am a baby boomer and I thought that in my retirement years I would not have any problems. Boy, was I wrong!!!!!

My now, 21 year old was on CHIP insurance in 2006. He has a torn miniscus and was SCHDEDULED for surgery....a Senior in high school. Well, 2 weeks before he was scheduled to have that important surgery...we lost his CHIP insurance!! So, 3 years later, he still walks around with a banged up knee. He has just finished 2 year Business Administration degree. Of course, how he needs a job with benefits. Well, then because it's a pre-existing condition it might not be covered anyway. We need affordable insurance and we need it now!!It is too... (more)

I am concerned about the cost of prescription drugs for my parents who are 80 & 78 yrs old. Even with Medicare they are being charged enormus amounts for the drugs they need to survive.

i recently had a short stay in two separate hospitals. this was for a normal angiogram, the first hospital did angioplasty with the balloon. then released me the same day at approx.1:00 pm and insurance was charged over $58,000. my dr. sent me to another for second opinion on another heart cath procedure where a medicated stint was placed inside an artery. the dr. had me stay overnight for observation and released by 1200 pm the next day. this hospital charged just under $24,000 for the second procedure...why is this? i asked my insurance... (more)

My husband has really great health insurance through his employer, however, I am not employed at this time, and refuse to go the doctor, or have check ups, unless it is an emergency, because without health coverage from both of us, I live in fear of some major health crisis disrupting our life, financially. With the exception of our children, my husband,and I feel we have to budget in, when we can even, afford to be sick, because of the extremely high cost, with regard to care, and prescriptions. I also feel that until we can afford to... (more)

I am a sixth grade reading teacher in the state of Texas. I have taught 19 years, and struggled with the sister illnesses, Lupus and Sjogren's Syndrome, for most of my life. My husband, also a teacher, is a diabetic. We have raised three amazing kids, who are now young adults. I'm proud to say that each has their college degree. I preface my story with this information, because I want to make a point. During our nearly thirty years of marriage, my husband and I have NEVER been able to save more than several hundered dollars...PERIOD...due to... (more)

I am a teacher and our health care premiums are so high that many teachers cannot cover their families...and I am a husband and a father. It makes no sense.

As a near retiree, within 5 years; and with two knees that will need replaced probably in that time period I am very worried about the rising cost of health care and that my premiums may almost be half of my monthly income. Not only have hospital costs gone up and insurance coverage become more skimpy, especially on drugs; I have seen hospitals and doctors bill patients before, after, and during the insurance process; hoping we pay a bill that is not fully accurate. Then try to get your money back. Also for almost fifty years I have... (more)

I am 41 years old, single, never married. I live in a small town and find myself faced with concern over the cost of medical care but also the quality of care I receive. I was recently laid off from my position with a local chemical plant. I have always been blessed to be insured through my parents and as an adult through the companies I worked for including the plant where I last worked. I had both medical and dental coverage and this was very much needed as I was recently diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Constant visits to the doctor and... (more)

I am a 51 year old single female, I am self-employed, I struggle to make ends meet and would love to have health insurance so that I to could have preventive care and medical care when I need it. I make too much money for the "free clinics" and not enough to afford insurance. I think it's a shame in this country of plenty that we treat OUR OWN as if they were the dregs of society, when it's the little man that made this country great. Those of you who sit in government should be ashamed that people go without medical care and the... (more)

Jessica Leanne Hurt died on June 13, 2009. She was 21 years old. Jessica had gallstones, which could have been fixed by a fairly minor surgical procedure. Although there is a crisis in this country, with over 45 million people uninsured, that was not Jessica’s situation. She was employed and had health insurance. As the gallstone problem developed she sought treatment and surgery was recommended. However, she was informed that she would be required to pay $5000 upfront to cover her deductible and co-pay before she could have... (more)