Costs: Health insurance is the problem not the solution. It costs more money to figure out who isn't covered for what than it does to administer the care. Why do we spend so much time and energy denying coverage? Why do I have to pay for this "privilege"? Coverage: My family has not health care coverage at the moment because it's cheaper to put that money into an account and spend it on what I really want and need. Last year we spent $9600 on health care because my wife was pregnant. I then had to pay $5000 to cover the midwife... (more)

I can't afford healthcare and I am an educated woman in her late 30's.....

My son and daughter-in-law work hard and are not extravagant, but health care costs are eating their budget alive. They live in Wisconsin. She is self-employed and his job only contributes $340 a month toward premiums that have exceeded $1200 a month. And this is only if they carry a high deductible. His salary is low as he works for a non-profit. They have just put their baby daughter on a state supported health care plan to try to provide for her needs and reduce their premiums though the savings is miniscule. The contrast between my... (more)

I work for Dept of Child Support. I have been purging cases for intact families. I think a major reason we have high costs in medical ais due to a family receiving medical for their one child...they can't afford health insurance but they continue to have children at a cost to the county/state. Obviously if they are on medical they don't have resourses to have additional children...why do taxpayers pay for these individuals to have additional children when we as individuals that work cannot afford additional children. Also pharmacuticals... (more)

I am a 60 year old Vietnam Veteran with young (11 & 8) daughters. I have received good care at the VA for myself, but when I applied to Blue Shield for a family plan, I was told that they would accept the girls and my 40 year old wife but not me because I take a statin for cholesterol. For 2 years we paid $600 per month for the three females and the premiums increased an avg. of 20% p/a. We had high deductibles, too. Finally, we were priced out of the market. Now, the girls barely qualify for Healthy Families, I still go to the VA and my... (more)

I am over 50, and for many years of my life I have not had the kinds of jobs where health care benefits were provided. I have never had enough financial resources to cover rent and other daily expenses plus health insurance. I have not been to the dentist in almost 3 years for the same reason. Fortunately I have been pretty healthy, but I worry about what I will do if that changes.

I am in desperate need of a kidney. I pray that Medicare with tap into the Alliance for Paired Donation system; and thus save millions of dollars and spare us untold unhappiness, illness and death.

As we grow older, I know that my quality of life depends on both the health of both my mind and body. I have health benefits through my retirement plan, but with costs rising I worry about whether I and my husband will be able to afford the care we may need. I also know that my insurer is vigilant at turning down claims. What sense does it make to have an insurance company deciding what I need and what my physician can provide? We need a national program that cares for ALL citizens. It's as simple as that.

I have no health care and am at the mercy of they system. I can't afford even the simplest of medications and the new ones which are of real benefit are out of reach financially. The only sleep medication that works for me cost over $200 for 30 days. I'm 48 and my parents pay for major medical in the event I get hospitalized with a major illness. They cannot afford to pay for normal health insurance so I can see the doctor for checkups or if I get sick. If I catch the swine flu, feel a lump in my breast or anything else I have to sit... (more)

My family and I are fortunate enough to have good health care through my job, but I think the entire country should have the opertunity to good health care as well.

About four years ago, I was downsized from a job which gave me health care benefits. After my COBRA ran out, I was unable to obtain a policy for less than $1,2000 a month because I was taking Prozac! I neither had, nor ever had absolutely any other chronic, or life threatening health conditions. I have been receiving Medicare benefits for the past two years, so my medical costs probably will not be much alleviated by the President's health care reform measures; however why should anyone's access to medical services depend upon one's... (more)

My overall heath is good, but I've lost my hearing very badly for someone my age (40). The doctor says it is most likely genetic; my father lost his hearing at a young age, too. The doctor found no injury to my ears or other disease that could account for the hearing loss. Hearing aids are dreadfully expensive. I have better insurance than most. Even so, I get only $2000.00 for hearing aids. Good hearing aids can run twice as much a piece. Right now I'm fixing the old ones at $250 - $300 dollars a crack, and they're not wonderfully effective.

I think it is a crime that people are dying because they cannot afford healthcare and/or are being refused heathcare services because they have no insurance.Elderly people that cannot get the care and assistance they need and deserve. Children not able to get the healthcare they need. Sick people not able to afford their medication or their insurance carrier does not or will not cover these muuch needed medicatations.Insurance companies are deciding whether or not is is necessary for people to receive medical attention. I am angry, sad, and... (more)

In 2001, I had major surgery for fibroid tumors. Shortly after that I chose to leave my job for something less stressful and for a job that would support a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, I had difficulty finding jobs that were flexible and the one I found did not have health insurance. I tried to get health insurance on my own but was denied by several insurances because of a pre-existing condition. Eventually, I was strong enough to get a full time job with benefits. But by that time, I had been without medical insurance for five years.... (more)

I haven't had any kind of health care coverage since I left Cornell University, 5 years ago. I consider myself very lucky in every other aspect of my life- I love what I do and I live in a beautiful city- Santa Barbara. But this basic need is not taken care of, and I just have to hope that I remain healthy for a long time. I have worked for both small and large companies. The ones that do offer coverage are too expensive. The current non-profit I work for can't even afford to offer it. I haven't been to a dentist in 5 years. My parents have... (more)

As a retired professor, I receive excellent health coverage, paying little or nothing for my health care. It is embarrassing to see how other people who may be much more valuable to society do not have decent coverage. I know that it's possible, and am devoted to the idea of having universal coverage.

I am 54 and in good shape because I take good care of myself: eat right, exercise, get enough sleep, and keep my stress level low. I had breast cancer 10 years ago, had a mastectomy, and followed a naturopathic regimen to become healthier than I had ever been. Several years ago, when I sought health insurance, there was only one insurer who would take me, and the premium is $500/month with a $3000 annual deductible! It's a large amount of money to pay and I am grateful that I am able, but it does not seem fair to me to have to pay so much.... (more)

Dear President Obama, I hope this is really you if not so be it the story I have is not about me so much but about my son and my brother. My son is 41yr married with 2 little girls he has had a stroke can't work needs lots of medication but cost is to high his wife only works and co- pay is higher than they can afford so he only takes half of what he should per day so h he get sick when he should be getting better.My bother is 56yr homeless and has really bad diabetic he and his wife also have mental health issues please help.

I have been grateful to have some of the best health insurance in the country under my father's plan (a medical school professor). Unfortunately, it has not covered several things that I have needed for more preventative health care. And now, in two months, I will be aging-out of that plan and left totally without health care as I graduate from graduate school and am at an unstable place professionally. I am just praying I don't get sick or hurt... and what if I do?? I'm single, healthy and young and am still terrified of not having health... (more)

I have lived all my life with no health insurance. I seem to be doing ok, and I have medicare now -- but I have been astounded at the cost of the limited care I have needed over the years. It's a crazy inefficiency in our way of life -- far too much energy is sucked into this issue, energy that should be spent elsewhere.