I am a 58 year-old female California resident. My family and I are uninsured. My husband and I are both self-employed and live with our 15 year old son. I teach piano and my husband is a landscaper.

In January 2006, the retina in my right eye suddenly detached, and I was sent out of town for emergency surgery. Fortunately, Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa did not make me feel very bad about having no insurance, and the surgery proceeded. We applied for Medi-cal that week. It took a long time to find out that we were denied benefits.

What we had in savings did not cover the more than $25,000 in bills. Loans and gifts were what paid these bills. It is 8 months later and, although I have no savings whatsoever, we still do not qualify for Medical.

We still cannot afford health care, which would be about $800 a month. Our son has an existing eye condition also, which requires doctor care and medications.

Lynn Kiesewetter
Mendocino, California