Right now, I am a healthy 70 year old woman. But I have a family history of osteoporosis--an aunt and an UNCLE both fell with broken hips--and my mother had Alzheimer's disease. I am walking, taking calcium etc, and doing mental exercises, but I am still afraid that I will need the kind of care that ran their finances into the ground.

Healthcare reform is needed and very important as right now my son does not have healthcare nor do i. I cannot afford to go to the doctor for checkups .. shame shame

My wife and I purchase our own health care and pay over $12000 per year for marginal coverage.

Quality affordable health care is an ozymoron.

My friend spends more than $600/month on medications she must have for diabetes and complications. She was forced to retire due to her medical condition and has no income other than social security. She was forced to spend all her retirement savings on her medical treatment. Thankfully, she can still walk--albeit slowly and with a walker. However, she will soon be blind. She cannot afford quality eye care due to the cost of her medications. President Obama's healthcare plan is urgently needed for my friend and others like her who were... (more)

I am a mother who is 40 years old i have diabetes i dont go to the doctor because i have no health care. I use insulin that i have to buy from the pharmacy that some times i can't afford I am just waiting to die.

I have been chronically ill since I was 3 years old. I have chronic severe asthma, psoriasis, horrible allergies, GERD, and other personal severe health issues. Just to keep myself alive it costs me several hundred dollars a year, and when things go wrong I am in the hospital terrified about getting the bill. I recently had to get blood work done and it costs me over $300, now I cannot get school picutures for my children or do anything else extra for them. I pay $300 a month for my PPO health insurance and I still need to cover 20% when I... (more)

We are a family of 5. My husband is self employed and has his own healthcare plan, that rises each year by 100$ a month and the coverage decreases. The company I worked for for 9 years recently closed so my children and myself are covered by a short term policy that has a high deductable and limited coverage. Total each month that we pay is $857.00 plus my husbands monthly medication (he had open heart surgery at the age of 40) that runs about $200.00. Nevermind if anyone has to GO to the doctor, then add in your $30.00 co pays, It is... (more)

I am a husband and father of two children. I must provide food, shelter, clothing, and security for my family. Part of security for my family is keeping them healthy with regular check-ups to prevent emergency room visits. I do not currently have health insurance.I work in the telemarketing industry and it tends to have a high employment turnover rate so most employers do not even offer insurance. I have had other insurance quotes which include a monthly cost of $2500 or more. I have hope that living in the greatest society to ever exist I... (more)

I have health insurance through my employer but due to the rising costs of insurance, they have cut our benefits. I am forced to go to in network physicians who are not as good as my past treating specialists who no longer accept my health insurance. I have a chronic back pain problem and if I want to see the orthopaedic physician of my choice I will have to pay for his fees on my own. Something has to change. Thank you for your time and attention. My sister Pat who is 62 now had a tumor on her bladder for 5 years and would not get... (more)

Even before I was in a high speed auto accident in December, 1983, that resulted in the onset of type 1 Diabetes, I was a person who - more often than not - preferred alternative health care. I was a graduate student at the time, and - from that time forward - I faced limited health care options. Either I couldn't get one because Type 1 Diabetes was a pre-existing condition, and all I needed health care for was Diabetes care... or I couldn't find a health care solution that allowed alternative modalities that was covered by an insurance... (more)

I am a 25 year old woman, you would think that finding reasonable health care would be easy and affordable. Well, I have learned that it is not. I found out that I had become pregnant last July, not having insurance I went to my local health department. They administered my pregnancy test and determined it to be positive. They let me know that I could apply for Medicaid since I was with out health care. Not taking any other tests they told me that I wouldn't need to see a doctor for another 6-8 weeks. I went home and started the application... (more)

health need to be cheaper,it cost to much for what you get.iam with you all the way.

The only story I have is like now I need to have fibroid remove I have insurance, but I do not have the 200.00 up front to pay to have them remove. I have a son in college and he has some miner issue but i cannot afford to put him on my insurance, i am a single mom with one one child at home that is on florida kid care and now every time my son has to go to the doctor have to almost sign my life away, please help.

I'm retired and my health care cost between me and the company I'm retired from cost $3,900 dollars a month for me and my wife. I don't see how many people could aford this out of there net income if retired or working.

I recently changed changed jobs, from one with health insurance to one without. I applied for an individual plan with the same company that I had my previous group plan with, and is the only quality individual plans at a reasonable cost. After roughly 10 weeks I reeived a phone call stating that they would cover me, but I would have to sign a rider stating that I am accepting this plan without mental health care coverage, and that the cost would be the same. I saw a couselor, not a psychologist or a psychiatrist, 3 times in 3 months. ... (more)

As an oncology nurse in a county supported medical center in NY, I saw repeatedly the ravages of catastrophic illness in the lives of patients and their families. Those with health coverage were often strapped or bankrupted by necessary treatments not covered. Those with no coverage often had to forgo some aspects of treatment they could not afford at all. The hospital's mandate was to accept all comers, regardless of ability to pay. This lead to being hundreds of millions of dollars in the red. The doctors were sometimes waiting years for... (more)

My daughter is 5 and has Cystic Fibrosis. Even with Health Insurance are co-pays and fees are beyond what we can afford. Every month we are wondering where the co-pay money will come from. Which one of her parents will need to go without dental care or doctor visits so she can get the care and medicine she needs to keep her healthy. I personally don't have medical insurance because we opted to save that money for Sydney's medical care. So, right now, as I'm writing this I have a toothache and have had chronic asthma since I was about 11... (more)

I have seen the outrageous charges that the health care and hospital, lab tests are personally. I know that the average citizen can not afford to pay these costs. Now that people are losing their jobs and can not have health insurance plans it is time now to revamp and change the system for all. Thank You

I'm a diabetic and an asthmatic, with high cholesterol and numerous allergies. My insurance has a high deductible. I can't afford to take all the medications to keep me healthy, or go to the specialists that my doctor wants me to see. Last year I ended up in the hospital with a bad case of bronchial pneumonia because I just couldn't afford the meds! Now I'm trying to pay off THAT bill, and it's making it tough to provide everything else needed for my family!