What are your major concerns surrounding the costs of and access to quality healthcare coverage in this country?

Because of hurricane Katrina, my health insurance from the retirement section of Orleans Parish School Board will be terminated soon. OPSB had a private retirement plan, so I will never be eligible for Medicare. Simply put my concern and major fear is shortly I will Have NO medical insurance. What am I suppossed to do?
—Marie Marullo, UTNO, LA

We are most concerned that 47 million Americans have no medical coverage at all, and the number is increasing every year. We are also concerned that many more millions of other Americans have limited and insufficient coverage, and they are increasing as well.
—Robert and Frances Kleiner, Temple Association of University Professionals, Philadelphia, PA

The high cost of medical premiums and the ongoing rise of prescription meds are the things that I am concerned about in the future. Becoming a senior citizen one day I know that I will be in a vulnerable position.
— Audrey Jackson, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, PA

I have a fairly good paying job and it is difficult for me to cover my health expenses for myself and my two college age sons. I am a single parent. Getting coverage for my sons is totally ridiculous once they are beyond college. Paying for medications is extreme. I am unsure how someone who does not have a job or less well paying job can do it. If I were to become disabled, we would lose everything.
—Teresa Langdon, Lockport Education Association, NY

The opaqueness of the bureaucracy of today's healthcare system is one of my major concerns. I carefully review every healthcare bill and make sure I receive my full healthcare benefit. Most bills are wrong and have me paying more than I am supposed to be paying under the benefit. Over the last few years, if I had not been carefully monitoring the healthcare bills, the cost to me would be several hundred dollars. The people who are part of the billing process are more concerned that the money is collected than whether the bill is correct. What happens to those who may not be monitoring their bills closely?
—Allan Fluharty, Chicaco Teachers Union, IL

My main concern is that costs keep rising. Now that it's open enrollment this month, I will opt for coverage at a lower cost hoping that the services don't decline. I have not received a cola in quite a few years. I'm deeply troubled that children who are poverty stricken don't have coverage.
—Loretta Williams, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, PA

I want quality health care at affordable prices just like we are asked every day to provide quality education for our students at affordable costs!
—Michael Anzelone, Nassau Community College Federation Teachers, NY

Well, the fact that my health insurance costs almost as much as my rent is my biggest issue. That and the lack of democratic oversight over health insurance -- it ought to be run as a consumer coop instead of as a shareholder-owned business.
—James Sheldon, United Educators of San Francisco, CA

When a student graduates from college, their chances of getting medical insurance is so slim. There must be some kind of medical insurance provided to these students, as well as a plan they can get that is an extention of the insurance that was provided by their parents policies.
—Gayle Bartholomew, Jefferson Federation of Teachers, LA

That so called "Universal Health Care" as delivered in other countries is being misrepresented as inadequate and poor. I would very much like to see a study in which there are quantifiers and measurable outcomes so that the public could have the truth.
—Irene Stern, United University Professions, NY

Will my children be able to afford healthcare? Will healthcare even exist once they enter the workfield?
—Chara Harris - Seminole Educational Clerical Association, FL

I live in a right to work state, and I am very concerned about how I will be able to take care of my healthcare. I am eligible for retirement now, but I am too afraid to do it too early simply because we have to pay for our healthcare benefits. I am self supporting, and am having trouble saving due to my low salary. Imagine, that I have spent my entire working life teaching, and at the time of my sixtieth birthday, I am panicking.
—Diane Mintz, Houston Federation of Teachers, TX

I worry most about the cost of medications. Every visit to the pharmacist I see an increase over what I payed last month.
—Linda Morris, AFT 6049 Oklahoma

Let's deal with the Drug plan donut hole. Also Medicare should be able to compete competively for prices and we should be able to import medicatrions from Canada legally if they are less expensive, I feel I am vicimized by people who have no compassion or empathy for the elderly and the less firm.
—Peter Mason, United Federation of Teachers, New York City

Health care costs have become outrageous due in part to law suits and greed and poor government management. Health care should be affordable for every citizen with minimal out of pocket expenses. Who can afford to pay hundreds of dollars a month for health care with deductibles and out of pocket expenses in the thousands of dollars?
—Walentin Kostenko, McAllen Federation of Teachers, TX