I'm you're average guy.  I live in Monmouth County, NJ, 50 miles outside of NYC, on the shore (NOT a cheap area).  I have two kids, 8 and 10 and I'm divorced.  I used to work at a local Ad Agency, making anywhere from 75-100K which gets you by in this area ( I live in a very small home in a nice area).

Since I was young I've had Epilepsy, MS and a Bi-Polar/Depressive disorder (from the lesions of the other two).  I've been on hundreds of meds and managed OK.  I was very fortunate to run marathons and do long distance triathlons all of the US for the last 18 years.  Many people with MS are in wheelchairs.

Two years ago things changed.  The MS woke up.  Though I am still functional, I am on full disability.  I can still work, but then I would not be eligible for anything, so it is a flawed system.  I am willing, but they will punish me for working.

I quick glance at my bills, which are normal, house 2k, child support 1k, car 250, cc's 300, electric/gas/water, 500, insurance/gas 250/ cable, 150/ house stuff/ 150/ food/ 100/ kids/ who knows, a lot/ etc.  So maybe 4000 to 5000 because I didn't mention my:

Health care related expenses.  I currently take 12 medications and see three specialist.  I've taken hundreds of medications over the last 30 years. I'm 49 years old.

When you are put on disability you have to wait TWO years before you are put on Medicare.

My insurance, which obviously I have to have, costs me at least $1,000 a month between premiums, co-pays on meds, doctor co-pays and anything else.  It's also happens to be very good insurance.

My total income is now $1,945.00 per month.  I am not allowed any more money.  Do the math.

I have lost:

My house, 401K, IRA, defaulted on cc's, ruined perfected credit that I'd built over 25 years, will never be able to help my ex-wife with college, braces, etc., for our children and will have to live with that my whole life, I can no longer pay child support (I am very lucky to have a great ex-wife, who ironically is a doctor) the one good thing from disability is they do send money to my ex for my kids.

I have nothing.  I have not one assist.  I don't even have to file and income tax return anymore. I am a good guy that worked hard my whole life.  I'm not blaming the US but I'm trying illustrate an example of the problems in our system.  I would have lost a lot no matter what because of the break down of my body.  Hey, shit happens and I can live with that.

To put someone on permanent disability and then make them wait two years for health insurance is mind boggling.  You are saying they have a medical disability so they MUST need insurance.  WTF?

We are too rich of a country for this kind of shit.  No, I don't have the answers but there has to be a way to cut up the pie and take care of everyone. 

Trust me, if I could trade my MS, Epilepsy and Bi-Polar/Depression, the 100+ gran mal seizures I've had, my constant pain, leg spasms, difficulty walking at times, past suicidal depression, substance abuse problems, memory and eyesight issues, need to sleep twice a day, the hundreds of side effects of the meds I've suffered, I would gladly do so.

I don't seek or want pity.  Believe it or not, I am at peace for the first time in my life in some ways.  I accept my body is what is and will never get better, and I've accepted my running/tri/swimming days are over.  Over the last two years during the process of losing everything there was a great deal of stress.  Now that it's gone, what can they do?  I get to spend a lot of time with my kids and they think I'm the coolest guy alive, because I am.  My daughter already, out loud (she's 8) claims to be a Democrat, atheist and say's "Fox News Sucks"!  How can you not love that child!  My son is a boy.

I would love your comments on the big picture.  Thanks for listening to my rant/thoughts.  Finally, and most importantly:

I would rather be working, paying to fix the problem, still running, screwing, cutting the lawn, etc., than be part of the problem.