I have a high deductible health care plan through my employer. The plan is free to me and that is the only reason I have any health insurance at all. I could not afford it if I had to pay out of pocket and still support myself. I could pay for a plan through my employer that give me more access to certain types of health care but the expense doesn't make any sense for reason stated below. My health care plan does not cover the physicians and treatment I choose. I believe that people should have the option of utilizing... (more)

My husband and I are both on Medicare. He has Parkinsons Disease, Diabetes and Heart Disease. He "fell into the Donut Hole" last year--and our total health care costs including premiums, co-pays, and non-covered costs were 26% of our income. I believe that America needs a single payer system with the ability for those who wish to have a private plan, to pay for it if they choose. The single payer plan should cover everyone from birth to death and should be funded by taxes paid by all with benefits available to all. By insuring... (more)

We have been HSA members for 5 years and over that time have seen our premiums start out low and climb to nearly as high as they were when we switched from a traditional plan. I thought the whole idea was to pay less in premiums? The cost of the healthcare that we did need (mostly routine and preventative care)was so high that we could never keep enough in our HSA and couldn't afford to reimburse ourselves for out-of-pocket healthcare. With the economic downturn (we are in real estate and small business), preventative doctor visits became... (more)

Our daughter was diagnosed with a mood disorder in the fall. The facilities, and Doctors that can work with this type of illness are limited. We drive two hours to get a doctor that will treat children/teens with this type of illness. There are no local facilities. In addition, because her illness is mental, many of the expenses are excluded by the insurance company. While, I have been told that this will be getting better, the over all cost for her treatment and her medications are staggering. It causes us to often make difficult... (more)

We are self-employed freelance artists, and the only coverage we can get is through the state of Arizona (thanks to Janet Napolitano!!). We've been consistently turned down by the big insurers, even though we are really quite healthy and are into preventative care. The $640 per month we have to pay to get a high deductible plan is really hard on our budget, AND I'm worried about my kids who are in their 20's and don't have coverage at all.

A good friend died last month. Her breast cancer metastasized to her lungs and brain before it was diagnosed. Why? Fern had no health insurance, and couldn't afford the annual mammograms that would have saved her life.

I never realized that at 62 I would face the possibility of no health insurance coverage. My husband and I are retired and paying for our own health insurance. My husband could obtain regular insurance when we moved to Arizona, but they but a 5 year exclusion on any payments for lower back issues since he had some minor 'arthritic changes' in his back. Other than that and medication for higher blood pressure which is controlled, he is healthy, active golfer. Although I am healthy, I had difficulty obtaining health insurance because I have... (more)

I was laid off from my job in March. Thanks to the COBRA subsidy, I am currently able to afford to maintain my coverage, but if I am unable to find suitable, well-paying employment, including group health insurance coverage, before the subsidy runs out, I know that I will not be able to obtain private coverage at the current rates. Thank you, Mr. President, for both the COBRA subsidy and for pushing for much needed and long overdue health care reform.

My medical insurance costs have increased by 20% or more each year since retirement. The increase is mostly due to skyrocketing costs for prescription drugs.

I live in Prescott, Arizona and finding a primary care physician or specialist who will take my insurance is almost impossible. I applied for insurance from another company that more doctors take and was denied because of a pre-existing condition - a condition that had not troubled me in several years. I was shocked because I am a healthy person, not overweight, a non-smoker without high blood pressure or high cholesterol - things that ail many Americans. I exercise every day and am fit - if I can't get insurance who can? It was the first... (more)

My husband and I each have our own very small business, without enough employees to get group health insurance. We have to pay for our own. Because my husband has two serious -- but not at all active -- health concerns, the only coverage he can get is $700 a month, with a $5000 deductible. My son has sleep apnea, but he was only able to get coverage if all treatment for sleep apena was waived (and that treatment is over $3000 a year). In total, our family of 4 pays $1200 a month! Most of my income goes to health care coverage. Both of... (more)

I have 2 college graduate adult children who have gone long periods without health coverage - because in today's job market many employers are not offering coverage any more, and so many jobs out there are kept at below full-time hours specifically to keep from having to supply coverage for employees. This is a national disgrace, and long overdue for correction.

I work for a rather small company in Prescott, AZ called HOAMCO which manages homeowner's associations. A couple of years ago our company joined forces with a "professional employer organization" called Ascend HR Soultions. The theory was to become part of a larger group so we could get better prices on health care coverage. They offered a group coverage called Healthnet. Being 54 years old, I felt I was at a time in my life where I really needed coverage as I had not had any health care coverage prior to HOAMCO. I had been an... (more)

Affordable dental care should also be apart of health care reform. Who hires someone with a mouth full of rotting or missing teeth?? I volunteer at 3 different non-profit organizations and I see so many people in their 20's,30's,40's with missing teeth because they couldn't afford dental care.They also have no insurance.

We are in our early 50's and own a small business. We are diversifying our services, and starting another small business just to make ends meet. We continue to keep our coverage, but total insurance costs are close to 1/4 of our tight budget, with heath care being over 1/8 of the total. This is with a huge deductible, and no coverage for standard care like dental, dermatologist, doctor office visits. We are skimping on care right now as a result, and hoping we don't get ill or have problems as a result.

We have an HSA. We are self employed. We have a monthly premium of $450 and deductibles per person (4) of $4,000. It is impossible to actually use the "insurance" unless we are in a catastrophic accident or illness. Recently I had my 7 year old son's warts treated by a dermo. After 2 visits and treatment of 7 painful warts, my cost is around $400 -- FOR WARTS!!! I tried to avoid this by purchasing OTC remedies and they did not work. $400 for warts...I am still reeling.

I am fortunate to have a personal health insurance policy. However, since being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, which requires expensive medication ($1500.00 per month), my premium has been going up every year nearly $100.00 per month. I am now uninusrable by any other private policy and so have little choice but to retain my current policy and pay the ever-increasing premiums. The United States spends more on health care than any other country but we are far from the top in terms of our overall health as a nation as well as in the... (more)

As a world leader, our country should be leading in providing for our people's health care.

While working in corporate America for over 45 years, I was fortunate enough to have access to excellent health care. When I was not working, I carried by own insurance as well as that offered under COBRA, which was expensive for me. Now that I am retired and covered by Medicare and an advantage plan, I continue my preventive health care routine so as not incur unnecessary medical expenses. I do not have a comprehensive dental plan and thus can no longer afford to have routine dental care. Despite this, I have been very pleased with my... (more)

I am a 57 yr. old male. When my wife (46 yrs) and I decided to move from Minneapolis to Arizona, she left a wonderful job which meant we had to go on Cobra @ a cost of over $850.00 per month or find our own new private plans. We searched many health care providers and were blatantly turned down. Neither of us have any truly serious health conditions and appeared to us that it is obvious that the health care providers in the USA are focused on doing whatever they can to either refuse taking on anyone who is not in perfect health or denying... (more)