My husband has a good job; we have good health care coverage, but if we didn't, we would be in a real bind. We are grateful for the health services we've received... my husband has been in the hospital twice for quadruple bypass and a colon surgery, I once with high blood pressure, one daughter we took to the emergency room thinking she had appendicitis... my other daughter just had knee surgery.... all of these were in the thousands of dollars and were necessary to save life and limb... I'm am terribly concerned about all the people out... (more)

My story is that of manyy other Americans. I am 35 years old and my family, including my husband and my 5 1/2 year old daugther, does not have healthcare. Our employers do not offer healthcare and we cannot afford individual coverage. Our medical expenses are all out-of-pocket and cause a considerable strain on our income. I had to have surgery this year and was forced to pay the entire amount up front. I am lucky enough to have family that was willing and able to help me with this. However, most uninsured people do not. Healthcare has become... (more)

i work in a hospital and i bare witness to the need for affordable medical care everyday.

Health care cost are too high. Too much money is going into CEO's pockets. I really don't believe health care should be in the for profit business. We use to be a country who did things because it was the right thing to do. Now, it is all about the bottom line and the only thing that matters is what is supposedly best for the shareholders. It really is all about what is best for the top brass in the company. There are no shareholder rights in this country.

I have become disabled and cannot work anymore. I need to have dental work done & i cannot afford to pay the cost out of pocket and I cannot afford any dental insurance. If i loose any more teeth, I will loose an important activity of daily living eating food properly!!! please help me

I would like to have health care reform in 2009 because I want the best for my 5 year old son and when he starts a family let them have the best in health care too.

Our nation is not taking care of its people. Get rid of the special interests and lobbists and give us health care that at least will keep up with third world countries. These corps. would like to see our country destroyed, give it back to the people not the corps. Also dismantle all monopolies that's how they got this strong!

Three years ago, my father went into a British hospital for minor surgery on his right leg. He contracted a staph infection and died in hospital. Two years ago, I fell and shattered my right knee. I went into an American hospital and also contracted a staph infection. A much younger man than my father, I recovered. The difference was not in the care we received, it was in the fees we were charged. Whether you live or die in Europe, it costs little to nothing. Whether you recover or not in America, your family can be crippled with bills.

My wife and I are Seniors. We have experienced, naturally, no increase in income. We have, however, experienced increases in Health Care costs thru increases in medicare premiums. We have no other insurance. I feel that your plan will change medicare for the better, cut costs of pharmaceuticals, hospital bills, and doctor bills. The Bush Administration has made the above rich at the expense of all Americans, especially Seniors. But please do not include illegal immigrants in Medicare. This is unfair to us, and to you, in trying to... (more)

I would like to relate my youngest daughter's experiences with the healthcare system today. Her family does not have sufficient healthcare to take care of their basic health concerns, let alone more serious situations. My daughter has suffered with back and neck pain, as well as other more personal medical conditions and cannot get treatment. My son-in-law has high blood pressure at a young age and other medical conditions. The only alternative they have is to go to the ER. Very seldom do they receive the treatment needed to really help... (more)

I am totally blind. I take medicines for vertigo, adhd, depression, and anxiety. I am taking a drug for my adhd that is less effective. I was taking concerta. my insurance will not pay for the concerta. I now have to take mytholfinidate and it isn't time released. every year i have to worry about insurance paying for medicines. the insurance companies are standing in the way of effective treatments the bush administration passed a law that states that sleep and tranqualizors can't be covered. some conditions are hindered when a person can't... (more)

My mother is 86 years old, on no medications and remains active. She is a former marine. When diagnosed with ovarian cancer, we went to the VA for care. Had we waited for the process, she would be dead by now. Fortunately I have been an oncology nurse for many years and for the last 10 years, a nurse practitioner. My mother was taken in by our company and treated. She breezed through chemo (as much as anyone can)and has had 2 more years of quality life. My son just turned 25 and can no longer be covered by my insurance. He is a late starter... (more)

Dear President Obama: I still believe single payor is the best way to go, but what to do with all these insurance companies with the economy in the state it is in. I trust you are doing what can be done at this point. Thank you SO much for your tireless efforts. I am so proud to be an American again. In terms of stories: I have a friend who is FINALLY going in for a hysterectomy she has needed and wanted for FIVE YEARS. This is outrageous. We feel very blessed to have good insurance, but every year the benefits are less and the premiums... (more)

The American Cancer Society stated recently that lack of health insurance is more deadly than tobacco with regard to cancer deaths. How can a country of such wealth and abundance allow people to die because of their financial misfortunes? Why is this country not first in longevity, infant mortality rates and other leading indicators of quality health care?

I have a Master' Degree in Business (MBA). I lost my job in September 2007. I have 21 years of experience in my field. My COBRA ran out on April 30, 2009. I cannot get health insurance because of prior medical conditions but my wife and three children depend on me. Thank you.

My wife was laid off three weeks ago and we will lose our health coverage at the end of December when the Cobra runs out. We will get health care insurance but at a considerably higher cost. Reform is needed now.

Health care has become a tax ripoff. My doctor may bill $700 for 12 minutes of work, insurance pays $120, the doctor then writes off a tax loss of $580, at the end of the year my doctor has earned maybe $400K but deducts much more declaring a tax loss. Start fixing health care by fixing the tax code for doctors so that declaring a tax loss requires more than just inflated billings.

I have been a Registered Nurse for 27 years and five years ago, I made a decision to open my own assisted living facility. I would probably have been content just working in the hospital and making good money, but the Lord called me to make a difference in our Senior Citizen's lives. Now, I serve 32 residents and 25 employees. As an entrepreneur, I have made several attempts to investigate the possibility of health insurance. However, with high cost of insurance neither myself as antrepreneur nor my staff can afford the premiums $600- $800 ... (more)

Please focus also on prevention and healthy food preparation choices in restaurants and the fast food industry. As I cut out hydrogenated oils, a beneficial side effect was a cessation of seasonal allergy symptoms. We can be our own worst enemy for good health.

My daughter is self-employed, is a single mom, and the baby's dad doesn't pay any child support or health insurance for their 4 yr. old son, and she has chronic asthma. She cannot afford the premiums for health insurance and if she could, would be rejected due to her chronic asthma (due to pre-existing condition exclusion). She sometimes cannot see her MD due to high cost of office visit and the medication she needs, so she stays home and gets sicker and sicker before finally going to the Dr.