I'm a teacher. When I retire at age 65 I will not have much pension after 25 years as 35 years is full pension. Health care will be a very large percentage of that. It is scary. Being able to afford to maintain my house while buying health care is my concern.

I do not have a story to tell of someone who does not have health insurance, insufficient and/or costly healthcare. Just a statement. Everyone deserves medical care, this issue has been going on too long, we have someone in the Presidency who wants to do the right thing, lets get it done!!!!!!!

I am a family nurse practitioner working on an oncology unit of a local hospital. I have a patient slowly dying of strangulation from a lung tumor that is gradually blocking off his bronchial tube. Stents or tubes have been placed twice and the cancer continues to grow unresponsive to repeated rounds of chemo and radiation. We have run out of options for treatment. At anytime this growth will let go and collapse his airway. He and his wife are tortured. They need help to deal with this and he needs the support of end-of-life care. The... (more)

four years ago I retired at 63 years old my wife is 4.5 years my junior she will have to work until she is 65 to pay for her health insurance. The only insurance we can afford is catastrophic.If she has pre-existing conditions we will be lucky if she can get any affordable insurance.

After losing my job last fall, our family could not afford to pay for health insurance through COBRA ($1100/month). We were able to get health insurance through the state of CT but the choice of doctors is very limited so we have to pay cash for Dr visits or drive about an hour to see a doctor.

My mother has worked as an RN for over 30 years. Every day it seems my mother see someone struggle to pay for their health care due to insufficient insurance. In addition, she sees attempt after attempt by insurance companies to get out of paying for vital, medically necessary care- and that's just the beginning.

As a small businessman, I have to buy my own insurance. It is the single greatest expense that I have. The cost exceeds my mortgage.

I lost my teaching job last summer, and now I am working part time at a museum. My husband is also working only part - time now. We no longer have health insurance, and I have epilepsy. My medication is around $500 a month, and I don't have the money to pay for it, since I am already struggling to pay the mortgage. Yesterday I tried to get my doctor to sponsor me for a program where the drug company will give me my medicine for free, but she didn't want to get involved with more paper work. That was my last hope. I have only enough... (more)

I don't understand how Americans can work all there lifes using companys health plans; then when a person retires the cost for superior medical covers is to high?

Quite friendly with 57 year old Female with Multiple Chronic Non Curable Medical Problems. Recently Divorced from Gentleman who Abused her, Stole Money from her, & repeatedly Cheated. On Medicare, unable to Work. Rarely goes to a Doctor for Usually Can't Afford it or any Medications As Ordered. I often Transport her via my Car Plus Bring her Food, Buy her Clothes, & I know she'll eventually Move In With Me for Debra's on a Waiting List to Get Into An Assisted Care Facility. Even though it's Wednesday, May 20, 2009, there are... (more)

RI is lagging behind in Health Care for same sex parterships/civil unions/ "The M Word". My partner would like to be able to put me on his plan but cannot. I'll be retiring soon - if the job lasts THAT long in this economy - and I'll need some sort of bridge from 62-65 which we cannot really afford [5000 deductible per year beyond our combined budget] - YET WE ARE BETTER OFF THAN SOME I KNOW PERSONALLY - help us all.

I haven't had a health care tradgey - yet. But I'm the type of person who tried to plan ahead. The irony is that I worked in the health insurance industry for twenty-two years (and then four years in the non-profit sector helping seniors access benefits and services). Now, I am unemployed. My husband is self-employed, working part-time and has Medicare. I have COBRA - for the time being. If I don't find a job with health benefits, I will be in real trouble when the COBRA runs out. I'm willing to pay for benefits, but when I checked into... (more)

My wife now has no health insurance accept a COBRA policy that terminates next year. Because of pre-existing conditions, she is unable to find a policy we can afford.

My sister died two years ago after battling melanoma for 10 years - she did have health care which enabled her to live as long as she did and make the most of every one of those last 10 years - everyone deserves quality care

For about 10 plus years I was self-employed. During that time my health insurance was NO health insurance. Luckily I was young and healthy. Only paid for the care I needed which was basically next to none. Planned Parenthood does annual exams at clinic prices. I followed homeopathic medicine and really took control of my own health and wellness. Child birthing which is normally extremely expensive was done by my midwife in my own home. I paid $3,000. A bargain. It was a beautiful experience. At that time I didn't want government involved with... (more)

A close friend who has had a kidney transplant is in dire financial circumstances and has had to go begging because her health care in CT does not cover her needs. If she lived in MA, the same care would be covered. The need for uniform and universal care is an imperative and is the reason I wholeheartedly support President Obama's health care plan.

I support a public option for health care as a comparative balance to private plans. What we have seen with HMOs and PPOs is that gains evaporate for the consumer and go directly to profit for health care companies. Having a choice of a public plan is an important 'check and balance' that will ensure reduced costs are shared with consumers. The public plan option is also the only practical way (subsidies to private plans have not worked) to have a chance of quality care for all americans. For me, Health care is not about me, but about... (more)

My husband and I are retired teachers in CT. Although we can purchase health insurance through the town in which we taught, the $11,000 annual fee is becoming a challenge. The annual rate has risen at a much greater rate than our pension income. Teachers who are single or have retired several years ago have even a more difficult time managing the payments. Most teachers in CT are not eligible for Medicare unless they worked outside of teaching and paid into SS.

Dear Mr. President, I don't have a real horror story to tell other than the fact that I have been twice hospitalized for major depression and now am locked into a Blue Cross Blue Shield Policy that costs $5000 a year and has a $10,000 deductible. A few years ago I paid $4000 out of pocket for a colonoscopy; two years ago over $2500 for a mammogram and sono gram that I KNEW were unnecessary but, the doctor insisted (to cover herself from a possible lawsuit I am sure). I have finally solved my health problems. Guess how? I moved to Italy,... (more)

We receive our medical insurance through my wifes employer.He is changing the coverage as of August 1st we will have a HSA with a 4000.00 deductable. I am on SSDI and will not be eligible for medicare till March. The company will pay $166.00 amonth towards our HSA which is the 1st 2000.00. This will only be be paid monthly and our prescriptions alone amount to more than this. This is unacceptible in America. This will throw is into poverty.