When I left the United States in 1970 following the disasters of 1968 and the subsequent election of Richard Nixon; I chose to move to Canada. I was not a draft dodger and did not have to leave but at the end of the day I felt that if I am to be taxed and taxed then I would rather see my money go toward something like universal health care as opposed to more bombs and guns to lay waste small defenseless nations. By in large I have always used complimentary medicine at my own expense...vitamins, minerals, naturopaths and herbalists and at... (more)

I am living without any health insurance as a contractor. There is no way I can afford it. We need universal health care and I would prefer that the insurance companies are left out of it. They are a middleman that provides no added value. Last year. penniless, I experienced an oral infection, and had to go, hat in hand, to the local emergency room. They took care of it, but they would have been paid to do that if we had universal health care. I'm for the individual option. Please help us.

I work in health care! I'm working as an EKG Technician while I pursue my dream of attending Medical School. From inside the system, we see the basic goals of caring for the sick and injured complicated by the profit goals of the insurance companies. We face a lack of continuity of care with our patients because of the limitations of "networked" provider systems. We see patients that lack access to the best options for their care because they either can't afford these choices out of pocket, or their insurance coverage has... (more)

As an administrator of group health benefits, and one who has worked for insurance brokerage firms, I speak first-

My father was a member of a HMO in which the health care providers were gate keepers of patient budgets (it was a capitation plan in which the heath care provider was paid $7/patient/month. The health care provider was responsible for all expenditures, i.e, if an X ray was taken, the HMO paid the cost--not insurance. If it could do an xray rather than a CAT scan, it stood to profit from the savings. In my dad's case, a doctor relied on a 4 year old CAT scan which showed scarring on the lung from pheumonia. A then current X ray showed... (more)

A few weeks back I had an emergency appendectomy in Seattle, WA. As a law student, I was able to have routine health matters handled at the student health office on campus; because of this and because of insufficient funds, I did not have health insurance at the time of the procedure. I have since graduated from school and am currently without a job and have over $30,000 worth of medical bills (many stemming from things like $750 blankets used during the appendectomy).

visual artist, self-employed adjunct teacher, would like to have visibility and health care. I don not currently have health insurance, but have a goal to be insured, so that I can have health care when I need it, so that I can renew my eye glass perscription, so that I do not have to worry. thank you.

As a pharmacy technician, I regularly see people walk out without the medication they need because they are too expensive. This is especially true of elderly patients when they reach the coverage gap or "donut hole" in their medicare part D plans.

I do not have an employer who provides health care. In fact, I don't have an employer. I freelance and can't afford health care for myself. I would highly benefit from a universal health care program because I can't afford insurance and I can't afford to pay out of pocket if something should happen and I need medical care. I know I'm not the only one in this situation.

I am in my early thirties and have Hip Dysplasia. I will need several surgeries over the course of my life. I currently worry constantly that my condition will lead to my financial ruin. I wish that healthcare were a right instead of a privilege in our country. I am a young, bright, hard-working person with much potential, but my health condition could be permanently financially devastating. I currently have health insurance, but I am afraid that after my surgeries that my premiums will be too high to keep up with. Please help reform the... (more)

If I weren't living with my parents there would be no way I could even begin to afford health insurance. Until my benefits kick in in another 4 months, I am paying just a fraction of my insurance cost, thanks to the assistance of my parents.

As an independent contractor, I pay for my own health insurance. However, despite paying over $2500/year for my own private health insurance I will probably be paying an additional $5000 to Dr's for treatment of an injury which my insurance company deems as "pre-existing." My Dr told me that my treatment would be covered, but now that my insurance company is claiming that it is a 'pre-existing' condition I will have to choose between paying the $5000 or taking on the insurance company in court which will cost a significant amount... (more)

I am a 28 year old type one diabetic. i have been living my version of the american dream, self-employed since graduating from college in 2004 as a multimedia artist and contractor. i have followed all the rules, keeping consistent health insurance without a lapse in coverage [in spite of unaffordable monthly premiums] and sought medical guidance ...the cost of my medicine and supplies every month is over $200. it has all become so expensive that i am nearing a spot where i will need to cancel my plan. i have exhausted help from my family and... (more)

I support major amendments to health care. I am 62 years old, widowed and self employed. I am healthy, do not smoke or drink and have been trying to enroll with insurance companies through AARP and direct. The response I get is "far" beyond my capacity. High premium I can not afford, low premium the deductible is incredible. It is as if I pay the insurance company money for it to exist instead of getting my treatments through it. So, I decided to go to public heath for check ups hoping that I do not contract any major illness.

I'm now on Metacare, but I used to worry about not having Health Insurance. I still worry about others.

remermber: if you like your PRIVATE INSURANCE, you can keep it. no one is forcing you to drop it. my story: april 2002 i awoke with intense vertigo and vomitting. i had no insurance and my mom begged me to see a dr. -- she paid for the $75 visit. the advice i received was if symptoms recur, see a doctor when you get settled. (i was moving across the country.) this was 6 mos after September 11th. i could not find a FT job. i have earned a BA in English (in part because of $ from pell grants and federal loans --thank you!). i did indeed have... (more)

I am 37 years old, HIV positive and newly homeless as of 5/2009. I had an aids diagnosis and am currently struggling to make sure I do not have to sleep one night on the streets of Seattle, WA. In 2006 I left a job with a local HMO, a Community Health Plan, and waited too long to use or sign up for the cobra plan offered. When I started to go through the normal process of trying to find affordable health coverage, I was denied because of my pre-existing conditions, and high points (used internally by insurance companies). I never thought I... (more)

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When I first got on Social Security, I did not have to pay anything out of my check for medical, as that was taken care of by the Part B. Now I am spending hundreds of dollars for hospital visits, doctor visits, and I have to spend over half of prescription costs out of my own pocket. I only get $674.00 going into my bank account each month. I am at the point of choice. Ignore my medical problems, and keep a roof over my head, and food in my belly, or have medical, and go homeless. I am already in low income housing, and cannot cut anything... (more)

Well, I have no health insurance. Not for ten years. I very much want a universal health care program for the US, but I don't want it to be like the car insurance program, where you MUST have insurance and the insurance companies dictate the price. I can afford about 75.00 a month. That's it. At this time I haven't found a way to pay that amount. All options are more. So... As to Mr. Obama - Dear Mr. President, I see you as a shining light and give thanx for your prensence in our world. Margaret Varra