I hope you read this all the way through, I think it is very important and could give you and others. I saw your story on the doctors and I understand completely. I have resorted to similar measures for the lowest quality health care in my area. I don't want to get into great detail here but if you respond I will tell you all about it. I am 26 years old and I have serious health issues which have landed me out of work and I have been fighting with medicaid for the last year and a half. I am sure you have received plenty of people telling you similar stories but I hope you pay a little extra attention to me because I think you are the key. Well not just you, you, me and all of the other people, young people suffering and dying and spending every day terrified that they won't make it until they can get health care, however they get it. So many people are directly affected by this problem and I am sure a lot of them have contacted you which is why I say you could be key. We could come together, you already have a ton of emails I am sure from people who are beyond frustrated and afraid that would be more than willing to participate in something to shed more light on the problem. I know that people know, that the government knows what's going on but I think if there were more faces and stories the people that aren't directly affected, that aren't suffering will care more too. I have had this idea and have been building on this idea to give the dead and dying from lack of healthcare a face. You already have the media interested in your story and I think if you and I and however many other people we can get together, come together we might finally be able to make a real difference in this battle. I have been thinking about making a documentary and I think from your story, if we could accomplish something like this especially making a film about it (I have some connections as far as that goes) we could make a real difference which is what you said you wanted to do. I think it can be done. Amanda in Mo

  I love this website. I wish i had one. I am diabetic and have a job but can not afford medical payments due to to many bills. My student loan will kick in and I will not get any help from our wonderful system. I have been out in the working world for 20 yrs. My diabetes is not controlled since I make not enough to buy the needed items to monitor or the drugs to keep me healthy. I have never ever had an relationships and if my medical insurance cover you i married you but with my situation it is hopeless cause. I am desparate for a pretty lady like you. I love blonde and blue eyes. These qualities alone turn me on. I hope and pray you find a husband that can afford to take care of you. I on the other hand have given up and decide that there is no one that wants me. I will never enjoy the benefit of a family or lover. You are a very sexy lady and hang in there you will find someone. God bless and I will pray for you. James Pa

 I want to thank you so much for what you are doing. I'm 32 years old and have a rare disease called Hereditary Angioedema (HAE). I have Type 1, which is low C1 levels. It has ruined my life and I will be paying medical bills until the day I die, unless the healthcare system is fixed. THANK YOU for bringing the stupidity to light!! It is a sad day when I go to work and my tax dollars go to those who don;t deserve it or are too lazy. BLESS YOU!!! Amanda in Fl

It's terrible that it has to come to this. You were spot on when you said if your not affected by it, you don't think about it. All of the people I know that are against health care reform, big surprise, have it! Their husbands are in the military, they have jobs that offer it. I am a 33 year old single mom, going to school. No insurance. I have MA and it's been a life saver, but I have an interview and the job pays $11.25 an hour. I want the job but am afraid to take it because I'll lose my MA. I'm not on as much medication as you, but I am on some. It will cost me $600 a month. I can't imagine what you pay. It's horrible.Tara im Pa

Good for you and yours! I've been saying I ought to marry for health coverage to friends for years.
I've paid a high premium for the USA's permitting the insurance industry's barbaric practice of denying coverage to persons with disabilities or chronic health conditions.
Rendered paraplegic at age 21, I've forfeited working, earned income and any rewards that might reasonably flow from earning any substantial income: marrriage; children; a home of one's own; travel...all held hostage, living in a nation that requires poverty to access publicly funded health and medical care necessary for one to live.
Private insurers, with advocates of the status quo, drop millions of us into publicly funded insurance once we're seriously ill, disabled or retired from working lives.I wish you well, getting this important message out at this crucial time. America needs to do the right thing. Michael in Ca

: I am in a similiar situation and would appreciate any referrals living in the central TN area. I applaud your ingenuity. Wish I had come up w/the idea. Good luck, girlfriend. Carrol in TN

I can't tell you how much reading this story about you has touched me. I never thought about going on You Tube, but trust me, if my boyfriend doesn't get himself together, I might just join you. I have chronic health issues as well, am 54, am limited as to what kind of work I can do, and haven't had health insurance for many years. I try not to dwell on it, but it is always there on my mind as to what will I do if my health gets worse. My job doesn't offer benefits of any kind. The ironic thing is, I work as a contractor for my county's Department of Family Services, and the clients I work with get free health, dental, eye, and whatever else they need. Many of them are not from this country or have totally destryoed their own lives, but the county, state and federal government take care of everything, while I just worry.I know what you felt when Brown was elected in Massachsetts. My heart just broke that night.I worry about cancer as my father and older brother both died at a young age from cancer. Not much you can do about the family history part of your health. I just try to keep healthy and hang in there. There are many times I just cry. I guess I could just tell my boyfriend to step it up, but being male, they generally don't get it even if you tell them. (We have already talked about marriage, I'm not just blindsiding the poor guy.) I, like you, have always been the good citizen, do everything for everyone. I have run fund raisers for sick kids, adults, fallen police officers and firefighters, volunteered for Red Cross, ran a major donation operation after September 11, both in my area in Virginia, and for supplies for New York Fire Department. I have raised well over $100,000 just for two charities I ran by myself for line of duty deaths of firefighters in Worcester, MA, and here in my county for 2 police officers murdered in the station parking lot.When it comes to paying for my health care, I just don't. I have been struggling with this for 25 years, and it has taken a lot of life away from me. I never got married, had kids, or experienced the joys you can experience when you have a healthy life.

IM 44 AM CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM NO HEALTH CARE I HAVE DIABETES & HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.HEART DISEASE RUNS IN MY MOMS FAMILY. IM ON DISABILITY DUE TO A STROKE IN 3/08 IM UNABLE TO WALK OR DO MOST THINGS I NEED TO DO FOR MYSELF SUCH AS DRESS OR USE THE RESTROOM. IM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE UNTIL SEPT.2010 MY DISABILITY INCOME IS 791 TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID.ALTHOUGH IM MARRIED MY HUSBAND LOST HIS JOB IN OCT.09 STILL NO LUCK IN FINDING A JOB!! I AM WORRIED EVERY DAY I COULD HAVE ANOTHER STROKE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE MEDS I NEED!!JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW I LOOK UP TO YOU FOR HAVING

 Hello! My name is Retha and I just wanted to try and contact you because I know exactly how you feel and what you are going through. I too have a genetic disorder (Cystic Fibrosis) and trying to find, and keep, good healthcare has been difficult for me as well. I was lucky enough to be kept on one of my parents insurances well after 18 but since I lost that it has been a constant, difficult struggle. I hope you find a double benefit from your site, good healthcare and a good man who will be supportive and caring . I did want to ask, after reading an interview you did with lemondrop.com, who you are employed by? I have tried so so hard to find at home work that will let me provide some income for myself but also let me feel useful. But there are so many scams out there I cant find anything to rely on. I know you said they asked you not to mention who they are but was that just for the article? Do they have a website I can go to? Any help would be appreciated. I hope you have amazing success with your site. It's really an ingenious idea. Best of luck to you :)Ritha in RI

My daughters and I were abandoned by my husband in 2002 after over 20 years of marriage. At that time we had a nice house, $300,000.00 per year income, and top notch health insurance. How things have changed! Although, I have an college education my years spent as a stay at home mother and servant wife have crippled my ability to obtain a job let alone
health insurance. I researched the health insurance situation myself when
I started having female problems. Seems like if you are over 44-forget it!
You are out of luck-go sit over there and wait until you retire! Maybe you'll be dead by then! Ooops! Sorry! What a sorry way to treat the mothers of this country who have sacrificed everything for the care of others. Deborah TX

My husband of 25 years divorced me to marry his secretary who has since divorced him. We have three children. I had hepatitis as a child and lost my spleen in an auto accident in 1969, so no insurer will touch me for less than $1200/month. I am in your exact same predicament, except that I have no insurance. I stay healthy and pay my own way and have found that providers are happy to give discounts for cash. HOWEVER, that is not a long-term solution.
Re your search, I too, have dated online and find that some men post photos that are up to 15 years old. PLEASE be careful. TAKE the photos and match the name with the man, and the man with the insurance policy. Heck, several might show up with the same health plan, and you can pick the one who seems most sincere, is handsomest or is NOT AN ALCOHOLIC (very un-useful when you are ill). I wish you all the best.
Ralph Nader wrote a NOVEL, called ONLY THE SUPER-RICH CAN SAVE US, and it seems that might be what it comes down to, because "little people" just can't make it alone, no matter how educated, how well-intentioned, how hard-working. YOU GO, GIRL! I wish you all the best! Martina in NC

I have been sick for over 23 years from an incurable disease. My husband left because he couldn't deal with it and my insurance was through the company he worked for. I haven't dated in the 15 years he's been gone, because I feel like no one would want me. Could you send some of the men you don't choose in my direction. I feel so overwhelmed by medical bills and loneliness. Your web site has given me hope that there are men out there who could still love someone who is sick.(I have Crones Disease which I inherited from my father) Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I hope you find someone you fall in love with and can spend the rest of your life with. No one should be scared and alone. Sarah in FL

Your story and the compassion in your voice touched me so much that i cried. I'm a 20 year old daughter, my mother is a single mother of 2 who are sick 24/7. She had to declare bankrupcy because the medical bills and co pays were just too much even though we have insurance. My 14 year old sister also is sick to the point where she can't attend school like any normal child. My mother has always paid her bills untill i ruptured two disks in my back, I was misdiognosed and have been bedridden for the past 7 months. My mother works everyday, has no time off, works overtime and i cry for her sake and at my own self for not being able to hold a job and help. I'm afraid it's going to kill her because she's always taking care of us first. I pray that you can get the help that you need and I thank you for putting yourself out there for everyone. God Bless You, and hopefully this will bring about some sort of change Brittney in MD

 I think you are an amazing woman, I hope that they wake up and see what we are going through, I am in the same boat you are, I was married before and now I can not afford health insurance for myself or my 2 year old son. We are not egilable for state assistance because they say I make too much money (when at the end of the month I don't have a single penny left after bills) I wish you the best of luck and any men you don't want send my way I am willing to do anything to be able to get the health care I need. You inspire alot of people keep up the good work.Victoria in GA

 MY DEAR, I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH AND HOPE YOU WILL FIND HELP NOT ONLY FOR YOU BUT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE SAME CONDITION...I AM 61 AND LOST MY JOB 11/2008 AND LOST EVERYTHING...I AM NOW ON DISABILITY WITH NO MEDICAL COVERAGE UNTIL 24 MONTHS...I WILL NEVER MAKE IT...HEALTH INSURANCE WAS 800 A MONTH FOR ME THROUGH THE COMPANY I WORKED FOR I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT COST FOR ME NOW...MY KIDNEYS NO LONGER PRODUCING THE PROPER CHEMICAL TO HELP MAKE RED BLOOD CELL...THEY GIVE ME PROCRID WHICH IS OVER 400.OO A SHOT I GET A SHOT EVERY 2 WEEKS...THE MANUFACTURE OF PROCRID IS GIVING ME THE MEDICATION FOR FREE SO I ONLY HAVE TO PAY THE DOCTOR FEE...THATS ONLY 1 THING...U HAVE R.A./HIGH BLOOD PRESS./I CAN NOT AFFORD THE TEST FOR LUPUS OR SEE A SPECIALIST..MY MOBILITY HAS BECOME 40% THERE ARE MANY OTHER HEALTH ISSUES THAT I CAN NOT ADDRESS ANYMORE AND GAVE UP...I AM ALONE...I HAVE NO ONE...JUST A CAT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP BECAUSE I CAN NOT CARE FOR HIM ANYMORE...AND THEY WANT ME TO HANG ON FOR 2 YEARS...BY THE TIME DOCTORS GET ME IT WILL BE FOR A AUTOPSY. ITS JUST GREAT TO BE AN AMERICAN..THEY REALLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR PEOPLE...HAHAI WISH YOU LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE...I HOPE YOU SUSCEED AND THINGS WILL TURN AROUND FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP...Nancy in FL

I am a widowed 46 year old mother of one and I have thought of doing the same thing! I can't find insurance for myself or my daughter anywhere. I don't mind paying a reasonable price for it, but the decent plans just aren't available to self employed people. I have a few serious health problems such as diabetes and a cervical spine injury and am STUCK. My daughter and I make too much money (a big $3000 a month) from social security survivor's benefits for her to qualify for the state run program. Any proposals you get from men on the East Coast...send em' my way! Meanwhile, good luck to you in finding the right guy, the right insurance and good health! Linda NJ

No need for you to reply--I don't have a marriage proposal!!--but I wanted to add my support. My daughter is in the same situation. She is only 21 and her COBRA runs out in April. She has mental illness and I can't find insurance for her. Because she's not a full-time student (she can't handle it) she can't stay on my insurance. Her meds alone cost more than $1,000/month. I am a doctor and I can't even get insurance for her! Fortunately, I can help her out, but I don't want to sacrifice my upcoming retirement by spending all I've got to keep her alive and healthy.
That's why I'm with you on the need for healthcare reform! Please add my voice to your campaign.
Good luck to you. Sue Hall MD

Terri, heard about your story on t.v this morning. I totally understand, my mom is suffering from skin cancer right now and has had major surgery for it, but it came back and now she can't afford medicare and she is trying to run her own business and has no soc second either (just like you, stay at home mom most of her life with 3 kids) also divorced and has been strugglin own her own for a while, but slowly drowning in debt like so many people today. Just wanted to let you know "you go girl"! Noone will understand completly unless they are in your shoes and are trying to race against a running clock. So just know there are people out there in your shoes (or close to it) and you just beat them to it as far as a great idea! I hope you have a long and happy married life, and who knows maybe you'll meet your soul mate! Tina in CA

Hi - I just read about your website in a Care2 email. I must say you're gorgeous before I say anything else! I unfortunately don't have health insurance either. I haven't worked a regular job in over 3 1/2 years, which started with quitting my job to move in with my mother to be her caregiver. Then after she passed away, my Cobra benefits ran out as well, and then I've had a patchwork of temporary policies, a student policy, etc. (I went back to school last year). Ironically, the further AWAY I get from cancer, I'm still having trouble finding companies that will take me at all, temporary or not... I've had cancer twice, but not in 9 yrs. 2+ months. Our wonderful insurance industry (which I say with heavy sarcasm) wants us to be TEN years cancer-free, thank you very much, before they'll take you. And why is having a regular job the end-all, be-all, in this country regarding health insurance? It's crazy, and I don't have to tell you that in western Europe, Japan, Canada, etc. this is not an issue whatsoever.
Anyway, all the best to you.DeWitt in TX

 It was a good thing I did so, my pregnancy had multiple complications resulting in an emergency c-section at 27 weeks. My son spent 3 months in intensive care. I think that without insurance I would not have received the medical care I needed and would have lost my son. After 8 years, my husband and I are still together. It has not been an easy road but I do believe that he is my soulmate and best friend, and I love him dearly.I hope that you are able to get the insurance you need and maybe find love at the same time.-Heather in KY

I need health insurance too. I was laid off my job 4 months ago and I have high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. The job market in FL is terrible. Unemployment for the state is 11.8%, for my area 13.7%, this is the fifth highest county in the state. And my age, soon to be 59, is also against me. My chances of finding another job are slim at best. I would appreciate it if you would pass any of your leftovers to me.Lisa in FL

I know your pain. I have lupus, and no health insurance, and no job, and no husband. I'm losing my house due to all of that, and have no money to move. I hope you find your husband. Surely there is a good man out there who will want someone beautiful like you. Deborah in FL

I'm a lady and can't offer any insurance, but just wanted to say how moving your situation (and that of SO many people in our country) is... Good for you for being so proactive and taking such good care of yourself. I wish there were more I could offer besides a pat on the back and best wishes... Hope the insurance fairy leaves a gem of an insurance plan under your pillow asap! Serita in NY

 I have Lupus, rhum artheritis, degeneritive arth., fibro etc.. (I can not even spell anything I have!) I am only 34, married and a mother of 3. I saw your story tonight on ABC15, (www.abc15.com) in Phoenix. I am so sorry for what you are going through, if there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. I am going to contact every single man I know, and spread the word. I am a Wedding Planner, on the side, (so I do not know too many single men lol) because I am in more pain than anyone could ever imagine and can not work a full time job, but I am willing to assist in planning your wedding when you get married, free of charge! Good Luck to you, and please again, feel free to contact me anytime. Us "sickies" have to stick together because unless people dont have a disease, it is no big deal to them. xoxo Jennifer Az

 Dear Terri ..... I thought this was a joke until I read your story ,My heart really goes out to you because my ex -wife is going through the same thing .I am a Canadian and she is American .She moved back to Erie , Pennsylvania after our divorce and then developed ovarian cancer .She could not get health insurance state side , so she would drive an hour and a half to our local hospital just for affordable treatment (free is very affordable ).Thats why your story touched me .She is in total remission right now and is in good health,but I'm not sure if that would be the case if she stayed in Eire .Anyway ,good luck in finding a guy with health insurance . May I suggest you look outside the U.S.A .Another suggestion I have for you is to do this site as a group page on Facebook.
Good luck ,,,,Rob

I think your are wonderful. I would do the same thing except my condition is HIV and putting myself out there would be a huge risk. I have been positive for 25 years and my meds run over $40,000 a year. Twelve years ago I had AIDS, became homeless and could not get any government assistance. I literally was dying. I am currently on Medicare and Medicaid and stuck in a system that doens't work and doesn't care. I have to remain broke to maintain the Medicaid! How will I maintain my health, how will I get my medications? I am 44 gorgeous and am finishing up my second Masters degree! I am scared to death to try to work. I have thought about moving to Sweden and claiming "Health care asylum"! I wish you the best perhaps you can send the guys you don't want my way, LOL. Good luck!

 Hi Terri! Thank you for sharing your story with us. I heard you on Tom Hartmen this morning and was very moved by your situation. First, I want to let you know that you will survive. People like you do make a difference in this world by getting the word out about how riduculous our health care system is in this great country of ours. Tom hit the head of the nail this morning when he quoted "what happen to the we nation instead of me". Unfortunately, the insurance company executives have too much greed in there heart. You mentioned something about inmates getting better treatment then everyday hard working people that have never been in trouble with the law. That really hit me because it is so true. The reason I understand what you're saying is because I'm going through the same stuff. I'm a 36 year old male and diagnosed with hemeoblastoma tumor in my spinal cord. I had surgery back in 2001 but need to get in done again asap. If I don't get this done, then one morning I'll wake up and I won't be able to walk anymore due to the growth of my tumor in my spinal cord. Trust me, I don't want to go through this again if I don't have to but unfortunately that isn't the case. I was uninsured for about 3yrs and recently just picked up insurance last November. All my test and scans I just found out from my insurance company aren't covered because of my pre-existing conditon. I just don't know what to do anymore. My girlfriend and I are about to foreclose on our dream home so it's been quite a difficult year as you can imagine. The only think I can think of right now is to get help from the state for my surgery. I hope they can help me out because this is really the last thing I need to worry about on top of everything else going on. Tom had a good idea about starting a bigger website which directly deals with people in the same situation. I think he has something there. I do have quite a bit of friends that are in the intel business and if you need any help starting this out, just let me know and we can start discussing where to begin. Keep up the fight Terri and never ever give up. Thank you for your inspiration and good luck to you.Your pal,Minh in WA

I am a Christian, first and foremost, tend to vote Republican but like many are very frustrated with that party. I had just turned on the radio to Rush Limbaugh complaining about yet another thing regarding Obama [conservatives need a new voice!] I turned the station 'cuz I just don't like Rush's approach, and I heard you [Terri] speaking on the Tom Hartman program - MUCH more interesting to listen to! Interesting to me because I also was diagnosed with an immune disorder 30 years ago that requires IV's of gamma-globulin every 3 weeks. Many times I have been without health insurance when my husband didn't work, have almost died twice due to severe infection. What I really wanted to tell you is my current status with health insurance is the best it's ever been. Last year the insurance rep. at my husband's employer pretty much said they wanted me off their health insurance because it was quite costly to them to keep me on their insurance. But the rep also worked very hard at finding an individual policy for me that would cover my VERY EXPENSIVE IV's [around $8000.00 every 3 weeks], and he actually DID find insurance for me that was affordable, through Group Health Insurance. I pay $352.00/mo. for my premium, and as long as I go to a Group Health infusion center, my IV's are given for the cost of an office visit! So I only pay $30.00 now each time I go get an IV [every 3 weeks]. This is such good news for my husband and I. We are so glad the insurance rep found out about this plan for me. Maybe this info will help someone. I think Group Health insurance is only offered in WA and Idaho, so this info might help someone who lives in those states. Thanks for what you are doing. Anita in  Wa

I made good money & had excellent health benefits for 7 years with the phone company. Long story short; Fibromyalgia, depression, 3 back surgeries, dozens of procedures, all kinds of dr's; neuro, ortho, psych, pain, etc & a ton of different meds. Worse now than when I began. Used up all FMLA & STD benefits at work, then was terminated because of all the absences. Because I couldn't tell them when I could return to work, they deemed that I "abandoned my job". Approved for COBRA, but it's over $1400/month! Tried to get the help paying 65% of COBRA that Obama started, but was denied. Why? Because my former employer deemed I had "abandoned my job", which they say makes me not eligible for the help. Unemployment was also denied for the same reason. New insurance has "pre-existing conditions" clause and can't even pay for both COBRA & new insurance because as soon as I get other health insurance, they'll deny the COBRA. Stuck between a rock & a hard place. Getting on disability is a fight to the death and can take years to get approved. My husband lost his job a few weeks ago too. Almost out of money & don't know what we're going to do. Scared to death that we'll lose the house, that I won't survive when I run out of meds, etc. I too wrote Obama asking for help & advising that most of us don't have time to wait until they come up with something. Like you, I didn't get a response either. Like others, we're out of time. We can't wait for our government to stop acting like children. They are supposed to be adults working to make US, the American people, have better lives. Instead, our tax dollars are paying for their "daycare" at the "House". I have no clue what we're going to do. My husband wants to move out of the US to a place that has health care for everyone. I'm scared. And out of time. Tina in Co

 After the company lay off, I was on COBRA for 18 months and could not afford anymore. My wife and I together were paying over $1000 just for the insurance, our two kids were covered by PeachCare (GA). Now 4 years after the lay off and 1 1/2 after the bankruptcy, I am living in Brazil, paying R$380 (about $233 dollars) for the family of four, full coverage, and my cardio and blood pressure issues were not a problem here. By law, I gwt health insurance no matter what my previous problems were. I am all for what you are doing and would like to help in any way you may think possible. Good luck! Eduardo

 I read about your issue on lemondrop.com, and I particularly chuckled at the idea of robbing a bank to get imprisoned for health care. For several years I have been suffering from a mental illness (which we later found out actually straddles the definitions of mental and physical, which makes health care coverage and hospitals even more elusive), and after the illness forced me to quit my work and left me bedridden, I missed the COBRA deadline. Since then, after waiting four months to get an appointment, I finally got an intake appointment with our county-subsidized health care in Illinois (separate from the state health care program for the uninsurable, which runs at ridiculous prices and takes a year to begin coverage - thank god my county is rich).
So all this made me seriously do research as to crimes that would be severe enough to guarantee incarceration (as opposed to community service, house arrest, etc) but mild enough to get me into minimum security for hopefully a short term. I really, really need to exercise to maintain what little sanity I had left (I was already getting confused about reality as it was). As I found out, a federal crime is usually better: robbing a post office without using a weapon might be the best option I've seen, and likely comical enough to guarantee getting publicity, even without the sob story. In fact, I hope you post this segment of my email just to give someone the idea to pull this kind of thing off - not to encourage a crime, but considering things like the woman who sold her virginity on eBay to pay for college, I'm sure there are women who have prostituted themselves for health care, which is of course illegal (not comparing you, which is obviously a much different situation S in IL


 i am in the same situation, but i haven't quite gotten enough confidence to do what you have. what i am interested in is the name of the company you work for. i am disabled and house bound and if i could make an $800 a month i might not be able to loose my house plus by groceries and medicine in the same month. i just want a job from home. i have a college degree, but it's business administration. i've been told it's too vague. anything you can suggest to help me get a job would be greatly appreciated. and i wish you the best of luck. i'm one of those who worked for 17 years, became disabled and managed to fall through the cracks. the 401 k is spent and i couldn't afford cobra so i'm managing with medicare, but it doesn't pay for much


I became unemployed in October 2008 after Hurricane Ike came through and destroyed the property of the company I worked for. I lost my insurance at that time and was not able to afford Cobra coverage. I have a 15 yr. old daughter/granddaughter (I adopted her) and neither one of has any health insurance. I am praying for the day that I get another job and have health insurance coverage again. My daughter and I both have health problems but cannot afford to go to the dr. I never expected to see the day that I would not be able to find a job. I wish you the best . . . God Bless You and all of us!!! Diana TX


I am a 42 yr old woman with a mariad of illnesses & am currently on SSI disability, unable to work & receiving Medicaid (and recently after a 2-yr wait: receiving Section 8 housing).  I am grateful to have Medicaid, but it comes at great costs.

I must prove every month/year to various government agencies that i fall below poverty level.  In other words: i do not exceed the inhumanely low "maximum income requirements" ---and that, yes, i am still chronically ill (after 7 years of being ill with incurable illness, WHY must i go through this over and over again?)
Please let me know if I can jump opn your bandwagon!Wishing you the very best of luck & please know there are many of us who know what it is like!
May i jump on your bandwagon?  I am looking for the same thing as you & do not know how much longer my dignity (or health) can withstand the invasion of my life by the government simply in return for medical insurance.Aloha,Jaana in Hi

I'm definitely not a male in search of a wife but I just want to tell you that I admire you for speaking out! I have a friend right now in your situation. She's trying to find answers. The company she worked for closed and she had worked with them for 20 years. She is now without a job and insurance and needless to say with unemployment she brings in half of her normal salary. She's been denied insurance also because of medical preexisting conditions. In the economy now its hard for her to find another job but stays constantly worried(added stress) about what "ifs" when she gets sick or needs medical attention or needs to possibly go to the hospital. Thanks for speaking up and best of luck to you! Jenny fron NC

made good money & had excellent health benefits for 7 years with the phone company. Long story short; Fibromyalgia, depression, 3 back surgeries, dozens of procedures, all kinds of dr's; neuro, ortho, psych, pain, etc & a ton of different meds. Worse now than when I began. Used up all FMLA & STD benefits at work, then was terminated because of all the absences. Because I couldn't tell them when I could return to work, they deemed that I "abandoned my job". Approved for COBRA, but it's over $1400/month! Tried to get the help paying 65% of COBRA that Obama started, but was denied. Why? Because my former employer deemed I had "abandoned my job", which they say makes me not eligible for the help. Unemployment was also denied for the same reason. New insurance has "pre-existing conditions" clause and can't even pay for both COBRA & new insurance because as soon as I get other health insurance, they'll deny the COBRA. Stuck between a rock & a hard place. Getting on disability is a fight to the death and can take years to get approved. My husband lost his job a few weeks ago too. Almost out of money & don't know what we're going to do. Scared to death that we'll lose the house, that I won't survive when I run out of meds, etc. I too wrote Obama asking for help & advising that most of us don't have time to wait until they come up with something. Like you, I didn't get a response either. Like others, we're out of time. We can't wait for our government to stop acting like children. They are supposed to be adults working to make US, the American people, have better lives. Instead, our tax dollars are paying for their "daycare" at the "House". I have no clue what we're going to do. My husband wants to move out of the US to a place that has health care for everyone. I'm scared. And out of time.  Tina in Co

Terri, I understand something of your frustration and despair. As a cancer survivor who lost his insurance a little over a year ago, I feel like I'm one medical emergency away from disaster. I haven't really considered marrying someone who has insurance, but maybe I should start thinking about it!
I wish you good luck, and my prayers are with you. Thomas in OH

Hi Terri! Thank you for sharing your story with us. I heard you on Tom Hartmen this morning and was very moved by your situation. First, I want to let you know that you will survive. People like you do make a difference in this world by getting the word out about how riduculous our health care system is in this great country of ours. Tom hit the head of the nail this morning when he quoted "what happen to the we nation instead of me". Unfortunately, the insurance company executives have too much greed in there heart. You mentioned something about inmates getting better treatment then everyday hard working people that have never been in trouble with the law. That really hit me because it is so true. The reason I understand what you're saying is because I'm going through the same stuff. I'm a 36 year old male and diagnosed with hemeoblastoma tumor in my spinal cord. I had surgery back in 2001 but need to get in done again asap. If I don't get this done, then one morning I'll wake up and I won't be able to walk anymore due to the growth of my tumor in my spinal cord. Trust me, I don't want to go through this again if I don't have to but unfortunately that isn't the case. I was uninsured for about 3yrs and recently just picked up insurance last November. All my test and scans I just found out from my insurance company aren't covered because of my pre-existing conditon. I just don't know what to do anymore. My girlfriend and I are about to foreclose on our dream home so it's been quite a difficult year as you can imagine. The only think I can think of right now is to get help from the state for my surgery. I hope they can help me out because this is really the last thing I need to worry about on top of everything else going on. Tom had a good idea about starting a bigger website which directly deals with people in the same situation. I think he has something there. I do have quite a bit of friends that are in the intel business and if you need any help starting this out, just let me know and we can start discussing where to begin. Keep up the fight Terri and never ever give up. Thank you for your inspiration and good luck to you Your pal, Minh in Wa


best of luck to you! I myself have quite a few things going on that i need pain meds for test ran (ovarian cyst being one of them), I work 6 days a week but my boss is failing the business and i only make $8 an hour. trying to find another job is hard because i must work here everyday or i cant afford a bill. I was just in the hospital friday and they want almost 6,000 for a few hour visit. and i dont even have the money to fill the pain medicine they gave me. I have a boyfriend though i always tell him we need to get married before my rotting tooth falls out of my head (dental visits are worse then doctors sometimes) But best of luck to you really, btw i would def. go marine, there great looking guys, very protective, health insurance for life, and all around great men! Felica in Pa

I saw your story this morning.right on! I thought, "Why didn't I think of that?" I too, will marry for health insurance...I won't bore you with MY tale of woe, but my insurance dropped me and now I have pre-existing conditions..you'd think I was a leper. I'm cute, funny, educated, yada yada, and I too have been looking for love this year with that number one criteria...America has put us in a pathetic situation. If you elevate this to a website for singles, I will join! Where do I sign up? Denise


I heard your story on Thom Hartman, and decided to write to let you know that I feel your pain. I lost my job last year after 20 years with the same company. I have not found another job yet and am currently uninsured. I use to be on 6 medications and two inhalers, which I would not be able to afford being uninsured. I lost a lot of weight before losing my job so I was blessed by not needing medication.
Like you, I myself have thought about advertising for a husband. I thought about advertising for a rich husband that wants a wife in name only. I don't know what I will do with the rest of my life.
I admire you for what you are trying to do, and I wish you all of the best. I will be praying for you.Sincerely,Kim in Or

 I will take any of your overflow my son has celiac disease im asmall business owner my insurance is so expensive.. i was married 18 yrs got divorced 3 yrs ago and 2yrs ago i was in the process of changing insurance in between new coverage i had injury to my thumb i told all my friends i was going to marry for insurance alot of my single friends debated who had best insurance.. i ended up dealing with my orn tendon which if i wouldnt have surgery soon would have lost all use of my thumb.. i just turned 39 in jan. good luck on your quest melissa MS

Terri, My hat tips to you and your attempt to do for yourself, what society has taken away!! Thumbs up....and Good Luck on your journey!! I saw your interview on the Early Show this morning...I wanted cry but at the same time, you put a smile on my face.  I am a woman who has worked hard, mostly in call centers, and am in my 2nd marriage.  I am a mother of 5 daughters, the youngest of which graduates high school this year.  My husband is on disability, for a year now, and hasnt had a job since 2005.  I found myself trying to support my family by myself...and when I had access to insurance for my family, it didnt cover pre-existing conditions, of coarse.  And so I was putting out money for insurance, that we couldnt afford to use, since everything was going to pay for the insurance, and then if that wasnt bad enough, my youngest daughter and I have pre-existing auto-immune conditions, that require doctor appts and meds, like with your own situation.  So I can totally relate to your situation and your concerns!!  At one point, I thought I was going to have to make a choice, between paying for my daughter to have her appt and meds, and me having my appts and meds.  I couldnt afford for both of us to go to the appts.  It was very scary and depressing.  But we are both still here.  I just wanted to say Hi, and applaud you for what you are doing, to try to help yourself....and say, I hope it all works out for you!  Will keep you in our prayers!!  Sue Tx

While I am neither in a position like yours nor in a position to help you, I can certainly see why you're looking for love with insurance. I hope you find it! If I were ever to develop a health condition as threatening as yours, I'd be right in the same boat you are. I hope our government can finally get it in gear and fix this problem, in time for you and others like you, and also for the sake of those who will surely be in your position in the future.Good luck! Julie MO


Wow I hope with what you are doing it will help push the goverment to get the bill done. I am in the same situation as many americans. No insurance. I was injured 3 years ago. and the company cancled my insurance after a year. and the cobra well 1000 a month. ok well that would have left me with 1000 a month to live on. no way my rent alone was 500 at the time. now i live with boyfriends parents. wow man it kills me. now my boyfriend is lucky he has state medical. he has a disability. his mom and dad have medacare. which his mom kills me if i had medacare id be good. she wount even go to the doctor half the time. Im a diabetic with other medical issues. I have several injurys that i hacve sustained over the course of driving semis for 15years. always had good medical for my diabetis. never had to take insluin untill this last accident. now with all the combined injurys and the insluin i can no longer work. so now I will be reciving a pension from the state with NO MEDICAL. and SSD turned me down for the 2 time. so now i get to have to pay even more money to a attopnery for that. as it is he is going to get part of my pension checks plus the darn company had over paid me for a year. to the tune of 15887.00 they have been taking 25% of my checks since june 09. this is crazy. we suffer while our goverment decides who gets what. and if you are just over there income limits well to bad. I wish you luck and my prayers are with you. And on a better note ive always herd milatary is supposed to be the best insurance. and you can shop on base. which i have done with a friend of mine daughter. its great. and you can get alot of discounts being milatary wife. LOL well good luck I am going to keep a eye out with your site. this is awsome. you have stired up a can of wormes and i hope it works Jennifer in WA


I am a single mother of a 23 month old son and when my ex left me when I was 6 months pregnant I was left with out insurance. I am lucky enough to not have the medical problems that you face, but I do understand how you feel. I know exactly where you are coming from. I am currently dating a man from England where they have Universal Health Care and he just cannot grasp how our country can sell us short on the basic right to live. The sad thing is most of these people who oppose Socialized medicine are the same people who are anti-choice? Why is life only important to them in the womb?
I worked for one week as a medical bills collection associate for a company in Georgia, I could not stand it any longer. It is the only job that I just never showed back up for with no call or notice. I was not calling people who maxed out credit cards buying a BMW, they were trying to survive. The women who worked in that place were viscious and so hateful to those poor people.
I recently got into a huge argument with some jerk on my friends Facebook post about Socialized medicine, he was so stupid and he was putting down the service people get in The UK, Canada, and the European Union, how the hell would he know? If you ever need a signature, or a letter to a senator, I would love to be on that list! Thank You,Suzanne Johnson

Hello my name is Stacey Bacchi and I have a mother who is in the very same situation that you are, though her disease much differant. She has stage four terminal cancer in the brain and spine. She had to go on disibility and she went on Ahcccs threw our state. For a year she was able to get on there health care coverage but after that year we where informed that they didn't report her income and now that they did she didn't qualify for health coverage any longer with no cobra coverage to help. we went to the news with no help we appealed but it didn't help. Then I she saw your story and thought hey maybe she could do that to. Basically if she doesn't get health care she will die. The state of Arizona who has denied her coverage is killing her every day. She feels she not pretty enough to do something like this becasue shes lost so much weight over that last year. I'm at the point where I will try anything to help my mother. Please contact me with any insight. Thank you so much. Stacey Bacchi


Hi Terri, I have just heard your story on The Early Show. I agree with u totally. I offered marriage to my Saudi boyfriend who works for an American company with great benefits. We haven't done it, but I'm quite serious. Talking about drastic measures, my son's girlfriend is pregnant, and has cystic fibrosis. She is covered by SOBRA Medicaid until after the baby is born, but then she will not have any insurance coverage for the drugs she needs to live. She has been denied Disability. My son is a college student now, but he says that if she can't get health coverage some way, he will join the military and marry her to guarantee her health coverage. I really hope it doesn't come to that! Good Luck Terri!! Shawn M. Edmi

Terri Iam in the same situation as you, except my COBRA ended October 2008. Ever since, I have been selling my belongings and struggling to pay for my doctor's bills and prescription. Lots of necessary tests and treatments are not getting done due to lack of money. My condition is chronic and progressive. I have contemplated doing the same as what you are trying and would love to be put on your site if you decide to offer space to feature other women...this could be a great service to those of us who have no other hope of getting the insurance we need. My other option was to move to MASS where insurance is free for someone with little money like myself, but my health conditions are much worse in the cold. Thank goodness I had purchased a long term disability policy, but it is not enough to live on, let alone pay $1200/month for a health insurance policy. I have been trying to get approved for SS disability, but that hasn't happened. I feel like they hope people will die or give up, there are so many people who deserve it who get denied. I worked hard my whole life, now thru no fault of my own, I can't work or drive. I live with constant pain, and the added anxiety of wondering how I can get the medical care I need. Now I live 30 minutes from the Mayo Clinic, where there are two top experts for my condition. But I can't afford the visit. I wish you all the luck in the world to find love and get health insurance. If you would consider expanding your site to include other women, please let me know. Thanks, Nicola  

I am in a similar situation at 56 yrs. of age. No insurance, no money, can't work full time. Too many assets ?, a tiny old mobil home, the county wants me to sign a lend on my home and any future income I MIGHT make. I don't think so! Who's going to hire me? My health is failing and I can't afford doctors, tests, dentist etc. It's VERY DEPRESSING!! I've had the same thought as you, 'will marry for health insurance" but I couldn't marry without love either. It's sad! Divorced 28 yrs. no children, caregiving 86 old Dad. I too wonder if I'll be disabled and homeless. You're a beautiful woman with personality, and courage. I wish you well! Sincerely,

im in the same place you are. i have RSD which is a pain disorder. im on 12 different medications. i also have to see doctors at least 2 times a month and health insurance companies wont take me on my own. i lost insurance when i turned 19. i've been fighting medicade for almost 2 years now and applied for disability 2 years ago and just got my appeal date. thank you so much for giving those of us in this situation a voice what you are doing is truly wonderful! sam  NY