"Remember this-one day YOU or someone you care about will be in the same boat as my firend with no insurance. And the charity wards are now turning people away."

A year ago I was making a little over 38k a year, had relatively decent health/dental insurance and, at age 38, I felt my employment was VERY secure with 18 loyal years under my belt. In one day it all went POOF, for myself and everyone in my "no longer needed" department. Having been a cog in the corporate travel industry, I knew better than to look for similiar work because the ability for everyone to book online travel had effectively rendered my skills obsolete. So, I borrowed money from my 401k and I am currently going to school, full time, to learn a more "in demand" trade.

I am getting by (mortgage, car insurance, bills, ect.) on my dwindling savings and a part-time night job. Can I afford health insurance?...yeah, right! Hopefully I will find a job soon after getting my certification (about six months) but, in the meantime I pray I will stay healthy.

I dont expect ANYTHING for free, but for the love of GOD, I have been a productive, tax-paying member of American society since age 16! Was I not helping to pay for someone elses free health care all those years? It seems pretty lousy that I get kicked to the health-care curb while doing everything in my power to get back on track. Just my .2