Share Your Story: What do preventive health services with no co-pays or deductibles mean to you?

Twenty years ago, when our son was 17, we grew alarmed about his behavior; he had a form of ADD. So we sent him to an adolescent psychologist, whom our insurance would not pay. Fortunately, my husband and I were both working, so by pulling in our belts we were able to cover the costs. What if we hadn't been? We wouldn't have known how to help him. He would have continued dressing like a homeless person with his unbrushed hair snarled up in a knot that someone said looked like another head. He would have been completely at the mercy of school friends -- a girl who led him around by the nose, into Central Park, NYC,  barefoot and ready to try anything offered, such as LSD (which he did, once); a boy who was suicidal and another who kept borrowing money from him without paying him back. Today, thanks to Obamacare, his therapist would be paid for -- and that analyst did him a lot of good! Now that I'm retired and on a fixed income, I'm very grateful for Medicare, the continuity of which the Affordable Care Act ensures. 

I have been dealing with 2 chronic illness and multiple injuries due to an accident over 10 yrs ago. I have had to go without treatments and Doc visits due to lack of insurance or the lack of ability to pay co-pay. I will not be able to reap any of the benefits from the new healthcare changes,because the govenor of the great state of Florida choose to say no and turned down the funding offered by the federal government. He made this choice on his own without the voicee of this state! The government healthcare clinics are now closed! The state healthcare clinics are next,as is my medicaid and medicare! Not all of us will be included in this great healthcare offered thanks to President Obama. Namaste' Sonja

 When our elderly Mother needed Medicaid in the state of Texas, the Governor had closed the Medicaid doors to all. My three brothers and I were able to pay for herplastic year and end of life care but were unsure how many others did so. Preventive and wellness with proactive care is missing in our country which contributes to the spiraling medicine based care given to us. How do we continue when there is little interest in our being well and not requiring so many services? As many of the citizens have no healthcare or minimal health care, it is in the country's best interest to provide wellness and preventive care at no cost from my perspective. Where will our elderly go? Where do low income go? 

I have Parkinson's Disease and am Soc. Sec. Disability. I had my first ob/gyn exam in over 3 and a half years. I had no insurance while I was waiting to get my Medicare. I had no insurance for 3 years, and was thrilled finally to be able to get myself check out...I had the usual pap test, exam, mammogram, and my first bone density test. All of these were done free of charge! With my only income being Social Security, it was wonderful to be able to get these tests without having to pay a co-pay.  My doctor also told me that if my two level pap test came back negative (which it did), I wouldn't have to have another one for 5 years. When I had insurance through work, I had annual pap tests, which were a blatant waste of money as I had never had any irregular results. The way President Obama has made this free of charge has put my mind at ease, and I found out that I needlessly was having annual expensive tests!  Unfortunately, my daughter who is 23 has no access to health insurance and has to pay out of pocket for any of these exams. My wish is that she also could have birth control pills for free, as well as have necessary gynecological exams through Planned Parenthood since no doctor will see her w/o charging over $200 for the same exam and tests.  The best way to avoid unwanted pregnancies is to have free access to birth control. Her job doesn't provide health insurance, so she spends over $600/yr just for the pill. I would hope this change could be made as well.