My name is Melissa. I’m 55 and I’m from Dutchess County, NY.

My husband and I are both self-employed and have to find our own health insurance. But even with health insurance, I’ve still had major problems getting the care I need  – specifically because we have no out-of-network options and no access to compounded medications. I’ve skipped getting surgery, prescription drugs, mental health care, dental care, vision care, diagnostic tests and acupuncture treatment because we simply can’t afford it.

Even with our insurance, we've had trouble with premiums, deductibles, co-pays and paying bills out-of-pocket. Doctors can’t help predict what things will cost. And we can’t predict what insurance will make us pay. And the way insurance companies decide what goes to the deductible make it almost impossible to reach it.

Everyone should be able to get the care they need in New York, no matter how much money they make. We should establish a single-payer system in New York State so that we don’t have to worry about how much it’s going to cost to get even basic medical care.