I can't afford Healthcare because the current system is a ripoff!

My folks are getting up there in age, but my mother still needs to work. they've worked hard all their lives and put my sister and i through college. i don't think they'll be able to keep their house -- a modest manufactured home -- once my mother has to retire, mainly due to healthcare costs.

Two years ago my neighbor was being robbed, and I stepped in. She got away. The attacker turned his gun on me and fired. I'm lucky to have survived, and I've been dealing with physical and psychological consequences since. To say that the routing of my care has been easy would be a lie. Instead, it's been a nightmare of authorizations and copays I can ill-afford. There's more, but I have a meeting to attend.

As self-employed baby boomers with a son completing college, my husband and I, in efforts to be self-reliant and responsible, are paying $19,000 a year for health insurance and long-term care insurance. That's 38% of our annual income!!!

Health care costs are too high for the middle and lower classes. My brother is $10,000 in debt because of health care costs. I am unable to take as many classes in college this semester because of the increased cost of my health insurance. We need positive changes immediately.

I was without health care for two years as a grad student because I couldn't afford to buy my own coverage (the discounted health insurance provided by the school was AWFUL and barely provided any coverage). It was too expensive for my parents to keep me on their plan.

Diagnosed last year with MS, my drug Tysabri is critical to the sucess in fighting the disease. Luckily, at over $24,000 per year, my company picks up 100% of the cost. There are many who are not as lucky as I and cannot get the treatment they need. It's enough to deal physically and mentally with a dehabilitating condition, it's unacceptable not to get the medicine available in the market place that is vital to sucessful treatment.

I was not able to afford to keep myself in college, so when I left, so did my parent's health care. I have been without health care since, although we (in Richmond) have The Fan Free Clinic to help us out in times of greater need.

Sept. of 2007 my neice calls me crying hysterically from Des Moise IA.. She was there solicitating support from the democratic presidential contenders for her non- profit Aids awareness organization HEALTHGAP. Out of the blue she tells me that her mommy was found dead in her bed by a neighbor at the family home in N.C. My sister died, all alone, from congested heart failure. She was uninsured because of a divorce and could not afford to go to a doctor. Knowing my sister she probably knew she was ill but was afraid of the costly outcome.... (more)

Lost company coverage in 2000 due to company redefining my position as "Independant Contractor" I was 49 with type 2 diabetes, my only option was guaranteed coverage plan paying $1100 per month for a catastophic plan with a $5000 deductible

I am a college student, and my father's company that he works for was recently bought out in a hostile take over through the shares. They are now using a new health insurance that barely covers anything. I had to go to the emergency room in April because a cyst on my ovary burst. My parents who are putting my sister and I through college are now stuck with a $3000 bill, and have lost most of their retirement. My dad is already almost 60 years old and my mom is only five years younger with barely any retirement and now a $3000 bill.

I cannot buy it on the open market. I have a pre-existing condition that began when I was 19. I need a public plan. My employer does not include my job title in the insurance program, so I am basicly on my own and without quality care and i live in fear of the next health crisis. We must change. Europe has done it. Yes we can!

I am self employed and I pay half of my employees healthcare cost. The amount I pay monthly is almost half of my entire overhead. It's very hard for small business to survive with high healthcare costs.

When I finished college I was no longer eligible to receive health insurance as a dependent. I immediately went to graduate school after undergrad and had to purchase an individual policy which was exceptionally expensive and provided inadequate coverage--first through my university and later through a private insurer which required answering numerous medical questions. As of June 1 I will be covered under my employer's plan! Hooray! Unfortunately, if I am to leave I will loose the coverage. Health insurance should not be tied to... (more)

I am a small business owner and a veteran. I can't afford health care insurance. I am getting worried that if something happens to me I will lose everything. I just wish that there were affordable health care or some sort of nationalized health care.

My health care story is about my need to pay for my daughter and grandson's health insurance. With 2 master's degrees, including a master's in special education, she works as a tutor at Manhattanville College in New York. They keep her hours at below 30 per week in order to avoid paying her benefits. Usually she works 28 to 30 hours per week, and often has to come in for special meetings for which she doesn't get paid. As a result, my husband and I pay $1,600 per month, which comes to almost $20,000 per year to make sure she has insurance... (more)

Barak- I wish I had a good story for you. I am 27 and in relatively amazing health beyond a jammed toe last night during an intense racquetball game. I just wanted to let you know that you have my full support regarding this measure. I am so thankful to have you representing the country. You are doing an amazing job. Great work at the Correspondents dinner too. You crushed it. Best, Scott Anderson PS- Health Care Costs are too high

I'M 72 years old,I had to retire from my job for medical reason, in 1980.At that time,through my job I'had medical insurance.My job pay for half and I paid for half.After I could no longer work,I could no longer afford to pay for,the insurance,for my medical wellbeing.The only insurance cover I've is Medicare.Why? because I cannot afford to pay for the insurance. For medical or dental. I'm on a set income and that income is social security,nothing else. At the time of my employment,my job didn't have a retirement plan for the emplyee's to... (more)

In the early months of 2008, I began experiencing episodes that included heart palpitations, dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness in my extremities, and a faint feeling. During the second episode, I called my primary care physician as coworkers rushed me to the emergency room. My doctor's office informed me that they were unable to approve an emergency room visit because I had not first seen them for this issue, and that they were unable to see me because the office did not reopen for two hours. They denied the referral and suggested that my... (more)

I am worried about cherry picking by health insurance companies. My health insurance provider now requires my spouse to undergo a Health Risk Assessment which includes blood samples and a questionnaire in order to continue health care coverage. They have not required this in years past. While I have been subject to this Health Risk Assessment for many years, they have recently changed the criteria used for evaluation. One of the criteria that they use is an obesity test which they administer through an unreliable test. It seems as if they... (more)