Patient Voices

Tell us your personal story relating to the need for reform or possible solutions. We'll publish some of these ideas to help those in the health care system understand the impact of these issues on real people.

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  Timothy Boeckman

  Insurance wouldn't cover Timothy Boeckman's pre-existing condition, but that condition is why the family needed coverage. Read Timothy's story.

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  Richard Bentley

  Richard Bentley lost his job and his insurance coverage. "What medical care he gets is little and at his own cost ... This should not happen to one who has tried to contribute to a better place for all of us," says his mother. Read Richard's story.

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  Matt Grinvalsky

  In his first job after college, Matt Grinvalsky "braved it" by going without medical insurance. Then he bought a plan, but it excluded asthma, the main reason he wanted insurance. As a new business owner, he found the costs of covering his employees prohibitive. "There has to be a better way," he says about health insurance. Read Matt's story.

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  Larry Hanson

  A month's supply of four of Larry Hanson's medications cost him half a month's salary. He is pondering stopping some of his medications, even though it would endanger him; "I just can't keep this up," he says. Read Larry's story.

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  Gary Harris

  Gary Harris received a life-saving transplant. But the costs of his care have driven the family to bankruptcy. Read Gary's story.

• Bill Markus

  "Outrageous" charges for a recent surgery left Bill Markus sputtering in anger. "People need to take a stand," he says. "Health care needs to be affordable to people."
  Read Bill's story.

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  Ken Thomas

  Ken Thomas refused to jeopardize his wife's financial security with a life-saving operation. Read Ken's story.

• Diana

  What the leaders who make these decisions need to understand is that I cannot spend money for anything except high health premiums. Someone needs to realize how this is affecting our economy and thus the U.S. Read Diana's story.

• Marcía

  It is just insane, cruel and unusual punishment that one must choose between medications, necessary medical equipment and food and utilities. Read Marcía's story.

• Suzanne

  Not only are Americans uninsured and under-insured, many have adequate insurance that is just a nightmare to use. Read Suzanne's story.