As a person with AIDS/HIV, I rely upon a steady dose of prescriptions to retain my good health. If I change jobs or if my employer's health care expenses must be cut, I worry about how to ensure steady access to the medications and care that I need. I look forward to the day when all Americans can search for the best job available to their talent, instead of choosing a job just because of the health benefits.

I've travelled widely in Europe and one time my wife had a serious illness there. I was so impressed in England, France, and Italy provided us with excellent care on our travels, including surgery at no "real" cost to us. The care there is patient based, and people have a right to it. WE NEED TO REGARD HEALTH CARE AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, NOT A FOR PROFIT BUSINESS. EVERY AMERICAN IS ENTITLED TO THE BEST CARE AVAILABLE. ALL AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST AS GOOD HEALTH CARE AS CONGRESS HAS. WE NEED A SINGLE PAYER, UNIVERSAL HEALTH... (more)

Dysfunctional FDA with Puritanical view of pain relief medication for OTC (compare to Europe) Companies selling orthotics for $500 out of stiff plastic that probably cost $2 to make. Optometrist lobby in every state making it impossible to buy contact lenses without a new prescription every year. The contacts cost $18, but the exam costs $100+ and my vision isn't changing, such a scam setup to line the optometrist's pocket with easy money, not unlike AIG.

Thank God I'm a veteran and for the most part my health care needs are met through the VA. Still on occasion I need dental work done which the VA doesn,t cover. Mr. President, keep up the good, hard, and much needed work. May BLESSINGS from God keep flowing your way upon you and those you love, as well as America and the world.

As the Internet opens the opportunity for more and more educated professionals to operate their own businesses as independent vendors, contractors, consultants, creative professionals, etc., it is imperative that we have a health care system that enables these people to purchase affordable health care as independents. The current system keeps such individuals locked in corporate jobs just to keep their benefits, preventing them from creating thousands of sole-proprietorships and partnerships on their own, which in turn squelches small business... (more)

As a former Canadian, I value a national health care program not run by insurance companies who lie to us. I am willing to wait for a treatment than be denied it. I am unhappy with the independent health care program that costs over $5,000 a year with deductables of $5,000 per person in my family. What value is there in this "catastrophic coverage"? Even if I held stock in these health care companies, I am unhappy with the business goal that places stock price value over health care. There has to be a balance. Can't the... (more)

I recently watched the movie "sicko" and had an epiphany when they interviewed people in Canada, England and France as they were leaving the hospital. When asked how much they had to pay for their hospital visit, not only did they say it was free, but most of them laughed because for them health care is a human right that is (of course!) free and it had never occurred to them that in some countries people have to pay to be healthy. Wow, I thought, why haven't we figured out how to have this in our country? If I get sick will I have... (more)

My story isn't remarkable or very interesting, but it is the reality of our lives... My husband and I are in our late forties, our two kids are happy and healthy adults living on their own. I (Jen) have been out of work for over a year now; we relied on my company insurance for our health care. My husband is working 15+ hours each day trying to get his "mortgage exchange" business off the ground, so there is no consistent income for us to be able toconsider health insurance as we try to stay afloat with all of our other... (more)

My 27 year old son is still in school and employed without health care benefits. He became sick, has asthma, and developed pneumonia. He had to work and rleapsed and was out of school and work for 2 weeks. I am a single 61 year old teacher who has added over $1000 of debt to my personal situation to help my son who health was severly endangered. He is an otherwise healthy young man who could benefit from a basic, affordable, accessible health care system.

Last year, one of my older sisters was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was determined that the type of cancer she had was the result of a "breast cancer gene" and it was suggested that if she had any sisters that they be tested also. There are five girls in my family - so we all went through the process of having ourselves tested for the BRCA gene. My younger sister and I both tested positive for the gene; my other two older sisters tested negative. Since that discovery, my older sister has had a double mastectomy with... (more)

My wife, who is now dead(14yrs)suddenly was diagnosed Colin Cancer. We had no insurance at the time. I too was riddled w/arthritice and no Ins.. Still working, attempted to pay as we moved on to find some help,to cure my wife. No doctor wanted us,(no insurance) inspite of the fact that I was willing to pay... My wife's Dr. attempted to get my wife onto Medical...Big Joke! Inspite of the fact that her cancer was spreading and terminal by waiting too much longer. Still no go. When my wife was finally accepted, it was already too late. My wife... (more)

It is appalling that in this country, people die because they do not have sufficient or any health care. I have friends in Canada who are very satisfied with their healthcare system.

Growing up the child of a self-employed single mother of two, I feel that making health care accessible to all Americans is VERY important. My mother worked 7 days a week, and because she was self- employed we had no insurance. If we were sick, or needed to see the doctor, my mother made sure we never did without, but at a very high cost to her. She worked very hard to make sure we were safe and healthy, but I know for many other women and children in similar situations, it may not be an option. Many people don't even have enough money for... (more)

i once fell down some stairs, hit my head and was unconscious. the police responded and called an albulance, which took me to the hospital, 100 yards away from where i fell. the cost for this quarter-mile ride was over $1,000. my insurance denied my claim, saying i should have called first to get approval. I WAS UNCONSCIOUS! finally they saw the stupidity of that denial and paid my claim, but after much haggling.

This story is of a different nature. It's a health insurance story of waste. I divorced when my son was 3. He's 22 now. And because I lived in Texas when I divorced, according to Texas law, since my birthday was first in the calendar year, compared to my ex-husband, I had to be the primary insurer of my son. Further, in Texas, my ex-husband had to also cover our son. For 18 years my ex-husband and I paid insurance to double cover our son - and in 18 years, both insurance companies were never called on simultaneously. This waste was mandated!... (more)

Andrzej O'Connor May 22, 2009 San Diego, CA 92101 To U.S. President Barak Obama Mr. President Barak Obama, there is no Fair and Equal Justice in the United States of America for all Americans, what’s more the U.S. Justice is Prejudice to People like me. I would like to say that the U.S Justice is anti-Constitutional! Mr. President Barak Obama, please read my short letter bellow to see how badly and with prejudice I was treated in the so called U.S. Democracy. I am victim of multiple frauds and crime committed against me... (more)

If the President's principle requirements for real health care reform are to Reduce Costs, Guarantee Choice and Ensure Quality Care for All then you will find this story to be discouraging, frightening and wrong in so many ways. My story shows how faulty medical record distribution or management can force someone in good health to stay in an expensive medical plan which they no longer want. It defeats the effort to reduce costs, eliminates the option of choice and could force one to settle for a lesser quality of health care. Dawnn... (more)

I trust that President Obama is leading us in the right direction on health care. My friend died of "complications" (probably a "super-bug" infection) when he went to the hospital for routine treatment of skin cancer. His daughter said, "This was not a natural death!" My friend would probably still be alive, if he had been in a major city, but he was visiting relatives in a small town in Texas. Something similar happened to my brother's friend. He researched it and found out that it is quite common for this... (more)

The Opposite of the "McAllen Problem" My friend went to the hospital for routine treatment. He would probably still be alive if he had gone to a hospital in a major city. However, he was visiting relatives in a small town in Texas, so he went to the local hospital. He died of "complications." The town was not McAllen, Texas. This was the opposite of the "McAllen Problem." In addition to "sky-rocketing costs," it has become painfully obvious that our country also has serious... (more)

First I want to scream! Then I want to print out ALL of these stories and send copies to every member of congress every day! My own problems are bad enough, but these other people's stories are a hundred times worse. When I read these health care stories that people are sending, first it makes me want to scream at the insurance companies: "Don't you get it?" "People's lives are at stake here!" Then I want to yell at Congress to "Quit dragging your feet and do something NOW--Not next month, or next year, when the... (more)