I'm 61, single, self-employed with decreasing income and increasing costs. I have had no health insurance for over 7 years now. I am beginning to have some health issues and cannot afford to have health care. I make too much to get assistance of any kind (and feel that assistance programs need some serious reformation but that's another story) and not enough to pay for private insurance. The lack of ability to access health care at this point in my life could mean that early detection of some issues (cancer, diabetes, hypertension, cardiac... (more)

My Husband and I are in our late 50's and are covered under my employer's health care coverage. However, we are the guardians and soul support for 2 granddaughters and a great-granddaughter.They are not covered under my Healthcare unless I have a very expensive court appoointed custody awarded. We cannot afford the cost of attorneys and court fees. These young people need good quality healthcare and the burden on us to pay up front for even routine Doctor visits is overwhelming.Heaven forbid they get reall ill. This is America and we have... (more)

My daughter, 28 years old, has had thousands of dollars of hospital bills since the birth of her son 5 years ago. I don't know if her family can ever pay them off. I have even recommended that they consider bankruptcy. They use the emergency room for their healthcare, because her husband as an auto parts clerk cannot afford work healthcare and my daughter is a student and works part-time. My daughter has diabetes and my son-in-law suffered from seizures two years ago and lost his good-paying job. After our two sons graduated from college,... (more)

Recently my wife needed minor hand surgery. We have health insurance, but nevertheless the hospital (Barton Hospital in South Lake Tahoe, CA) demanded that we pay $8,000 prior to surgery. We were fortunate to find a better alternative at a surgery center, and the final expense was $1800. I am at a loss to understand the disparity in services and costs. I had health insurance coverage, and I had trouble with my wife's surgery. What happens to those who have no coverage?

I've been lucky...My husband has made the choice to always ensure there is health care for the entire family at any job he takes. Times change, though, and my children haven't been as lucky. What the generation before me took for granted in America - being able to retire for one thing, but being able to also maintain health benefits - is "iffy" for my generation and "doubtful" for my children. I see them having to choose between maintaining their rent/house payment and monthly bills or getting the dental/medical check-ups... (more)

My mother is dying of cancer and she can't afford the copays of the treatments. She pays $130 a month for Medicare supplemental insurance and still the copays are too high.

I HAVE WORKED IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND STRONGLY BELIEVE THE THERE SHOULDE BE NO PROFIT IN MENTAL OR PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES, THE ASPECT OF PROFIT ENCOURAGES SHORT CUTS AND THE RISK OF NEEDED COSTLY SERVICES NOT BE OFFERED.

I am a 61 year old male. I have reciently lost my job and am having a great deal of trouble finding other work. I have been allowed to keep my insurance at the same rate that I paid while employed. However, after August 31 I will have to pay almost $400/month for the same coverage. Without work I will not be able to continue my coverage. Sad that this happens in America.

I was a practicing physical thrapist for 45 years. During that time I saw a vast scope of patients. Some had adequate health insurance for their problem. Some had less than adequate coverage and ended up with more expenses than they could handle. Most of those without insurance were either on welfare or some other government program that paid something toward their bills. Too often, parents with disabled children were completely drained of funds with little hope for long term needs. Too often,seniors were unable to pay excess costs and went... (more)

recently i had to go to emergency for an a sudden illness. with insurance we are still paying over $1000.00 alone just for the emergeny visit, not including medicine or followup. why are we paying insurance, it is almost an oxymoron (at that a sad joke). we are now burdened with more unneeded and NON-REALISTIC overpriced medical bills. we are struggling with me off work. this travesty in now in plain sight and affecting many..... our situation is not rare but a bad-par the care-we need change president obama and believe you do have our best... (more)

My daughter is in college, when she graduates I want to make sure she is able to have health insurance either through an employer or by out government.The thought of losing a home or wiping out hard earned savings due to medical bills and to support the likes Rick Scott and HCA is outrageous. America needs aid those who cannot afford the skyrocketing cost of medical treatment and prescriptions.

Everyday I live in fear that someone in my family will become sick with a long term illness. I am not afraid that we as a family will not be able to offer them support and care through an ordeal like this but that even after health insurance the cost of such an illness would leave one of us homeless and destitute. Getting sick is not a person's own fault. Our government owes us better than this. Please make this a country that spends money to help us, the citizens, not giant insurance and pharmaceutical companies. Help us now!

I have rheumatoid arthritis and if I go for 30 days without coverage(if my husband lost his job), then I would not be able to get coverage due to a pre-existing condition. Our costs due to co-pays, deductibles, premiums keeps going up. I would rather pay more in taxes for a universal coverage system.

As a school board trustee for 17 years I saw first hand in our budget the incredable rise in health care costs that impacted in a very negative way on classroom spending, teacher and classified pay increases, building and grounds care and improvements, books and supplies, etc, etc. Programs are cut and the quality of education deteriorates. All of the above is unacceptable for the education of our most valuable asset, our children.

I have been unemployed for a over a year now. Im almost 62 yrs old. I no longer have health insurance and I have issues that I wish I could go see a doctor for but I cannot do so. I cannot afford to. I just do without care in that respect. I do miss my health insurance I had as an employed person. My husband was on mine too but he cant to the doctor either; he had a heart attack 4 yrs ago. I just pray alot that we will be okay. I am so upset that the Republicans will not be teamplayers or solution oriented. We need to work together to get... (more)

I am a registered nurse and have seen, over the past 30 years, middle management, including the entire insurance industry, significantly contribute to the highest percentage rise in Health Care since the inception of medicare. I wish you tremendous luck, resolve and good partners in getting this enromous task done. May the force be with you. Sherry Neil-Urban

I am a type II diabetic that is insulin dependent, and I am a lower right leg amputee. I am a widow whose husband died with Hodgkin's Disease after a bone marrow transplant was not successful. He was a member of the UAW for all the years he worked. While the coverage he had has been grand, now I find myself a part of the UAW Legacy issues that have plagued the union for years, with the ccompanies continuing to stop some essential coverages. I am sure you have heard this many times. What had been given to us due to my husband's years of... (more)

My mother is having health issues and is on oxygen 24hrs a day. She has to undergo tests that are sometimes painful and embarrassing. She has been trying countless medications, some that put her in more danger. The expense my parents are paying is ridiculous and should be carefully monitored so that the health care industry doesn't thicken their wallets while my parents could be in trouble of losing their house.

I am, besides being a retired Pastor, also am a Marine. As an active Marine I suffered grenade injury with loss of digits. Now, I had the great Navy Hospitals and subsequently the VA. It hurts me that even active soldiers, sailors and Marines are being stiffed on good care. And what is worse is that many (if not most) non-military folks have to choose between the rent and the Doc. Or between food and a surgeon. Hey you guys that (supposedly) work for us ; PASS UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE. Bring us up to par with the rest of the civilized... (more)

I buy my own health insurance policy (a PPO) and the price just went up 20%. I'm 53 and feel like I can't move to another state without having to pay even higher premiums due to preexisting conditions. I'm interviewing for a job right now, but if I am hired, I am planning to keep my existing insurance because if I am laid off I will face the same problem. There is a disconnect between the consumers of health care products and the payment system. The employer funded model is not working when employees are encouraged to overuse the... (more)