My family of three has three different types of healthcare. My husband is an assistant pastor and has the UMC's plan. He has high co-pays and we simply could not afford the family plan option. I am on social security disability due to a variety of chronic health issues. When my husband left his last job we lost his insurance so I went on medicare. I am glad to have it, I have lower co-pays than my husband. However, I have less access to quality care. Many doctors simply do not take my medicare supplemental plan so I have to search a long time to find specialists to help with my various conditions. Then, my care is rationed because the tests and treatments are so expensive. I can't afford to pay out of pocket for everything I need beyond what they will pay. Becuase of our income level, my son qualified for a state children's health program (medicaide). He has the best access and no copays. We seem to take much better care of our children than we do adults.

Julie Wilson
Prince Frederick, MD

Just checked out the www.1010challenge.org Everyone has a health care story. The first one I read was by Allen Noah. I do not know him. But I believe he should have health care. I do not know a lot of people, but I believe we should all have health care. I have a place in my heart for people who care for other people - pastors, parents, caregivers, teachers, and doctors. I believe they especially need care. Just because someone does not have a traditional job that offers health care, that person should not be penalized or denied. Is a small-town pastor less important than a big-time CEO? I don't think so. As a follower of Jesus, I want to love, care for the least, the lost, the lonely. I want the above-mentioned pastor to have health care. I want the parent who opted out of the workforce to care for her infant to have health care. I believe a country pastor or a stay-at-home parent is as valuable to our nation - even more so - than a corporate mogul who carries health insurance for his or her family. I know several parents at my girls' NYC public school, who have health care for their children, but not for themselves. They cannot afford it. They are parents who have jobs, but those jobs do not offer health care. And even if they did not have jobs, they should still have health care. I worry about them, I worry what would happen if they required major medical care. God know, my family has needed major medical coverage over the last several years. My 12-year old has had three heart procedures. My husband had radiation for cancer and care for his Parkinson's Disease. I have absolutely no doubt these procedures, treatments and doctors' visits would have bankrupted us, had we no health insurance. Surely, we would be a million dollars in debt. As we in the United States debate how to provide universal health care, I suggest we remember parents and pastors. Let's not forget people who care for other people. Their work is priceless and too many of them are not insured.

Mary Beth Coudal
New York, NY

I've been a pediatric nurse for almost 25 years and have watched the healthcare system erode over time becoming controlled by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. I've seen people lose their insurance or, even if they do have insurance they can't afford their deductibles and copays. I've listened to mother's weep on the phone because they have a sick child but have to make the hard decision between buying groceries or medicine. In Washington state we have been lucky enough to cover about 10,000 more children this year on the state insurance but there are still so many without insurance and many of their parents don't have it. We need a strong public option that offers coverage to all people regardless of their employment, age, healthcare situation etc. It's time for the insurance industry to face some healthy competition instead of controlling what medications a doctor prescribes, what specialist they send a patient to or what procedure they recommend for a patient. Many health care workers like myself see the need. If we do, why can't everyone else?

Deborah McFadden
Ravensdale, WA