SEIU members have been greatly affected by the health care crisis. At both bargaining tables and kitchen tables across the nation, SEIU members have faced increasingly tough decisions about their health care - often sacrificing wage increases for benefits, or going without health insurance entirely. The high cost of care is crippling our economy and making quality, affordable coverage out of reach for too many working families.

Do you or a family member have a personal story to share that illustrates why health insurance must be affordable? Send it to your members of Congress.

Increased eligibility in Medicaid, access to the exchange and its subsidies, the elimination of pre-existing conditions and employer contribution standards are all measures in health care reform that will greatly improve coverage for hardworking Americans. These profiles illustrate how SEIU members, including those in the health care field, janitorial industries, public sector, and childcare services would benefit from the health insurance reforms being proposed by Congress.

Demetrius Smith, food service worker: Demetrius earns only $18,000 per year working as a food service worker and struggles to pay $87 per month for healthcare coverage through her employer. When Demetrius adds up what she spends on her healthcare coverage as well as housing, transportation and basic necessities, her paycheck simply doesn't stretch far enough.

Gary Soares, Personal Care Assistant: Right now, Gary earns too much as a PCA to buy lower-cost insurance under MA state healthcare reform for himself and his child--and not enough to be able to afford comprehensive insurance on the open market. He's caught in the middle like so many working families throughout America.

Cathy Gaul, food service worker: Illinois food service worker Cathy Gaul knows how quickly workers can go from having insurance to joining the ranks of 47 million Americans who live without it. A few months ago Cathy's husband lost his job--and with it, their health insurance and her ability to afford daily medication for a thyroid condition.

Larnice Sherrell Reed, home care worker: Home care workers such as Larnice who don't qualify for healthcare coverage on the job. As a result, when Larnice's beloved husband left this earth on Feb. 17, 2009 after battling cancer, she was left with medical bills totaling over $150,000.

Melanie Collins, home-based child care provider: Currently, caregiver and small business owner Melanie pays $457 per month for family coverage through Maine's Dirigo Choice subsidized program for small businesses--well over 10 percent of her net income. But if Melanie bought a plan on the open market in Maine today, she would be facing deductibles and out of pocket limits upward of $10,000 per year.

Elena Delgado, janitorial services: Like so many service workers, Elena does not qualify for healthcare coverage that includes comprehensive healthcare benefits. Although she currently receives care at the Houston Service Workers Clinic, which provides preventive and primary care services for a low monthly fee, the clinic cannot protect Elena or workers like her from catastrophic healthcare costs.

Luis Santana, janitor and retail worker: Luis earns almost $50,000 working two part-time jobs--one as a janitor and one in retail--to make ends meet. Like so many millions of Americans, Luis is employed in sectors that don't offer affordable healthcare coverage for part-time workers.

Loretta Johnson, Personal Care Assistant: After Loretta's husband passed away, she became a personal care assistant, giving others the same type of care she gave her husband, who'd been diabetic and had open heart surgery. But still, Loretta doesn't have health insurance coverage for herself, and she doesn't qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.

Esther Contreras, teacher's assistant: Esther is a single mother raising two children and working two jobs to make ends meet. serving children and families through Head Start in California. Esther's fortunate enough to have health insurance for herself but she worries with California's budget crisis, her kids will soon be cut from Head Start--and left without healthcare coverage."

Victoria Baldassano, English professor: Victoria teaches English part-time at MD's Montgomery College. Adjunct professors teach up to 50 percent of all classes at the college, but we receive much less pay than their full-time counterparts. They receive no benefits other than a single sick day per semester.

Donna Jenkins, home healthcare provider: Donna takes good care of herself by eating right and exercising, but this doesn't change the fact that few insurance companies are willing to cover a woman of her age at an affordable price. She's been quoted rates as high as $3,000 per month for coverage similar to what she previously had--a cost which would literally eat up her entire income.

Read more members' health care stories on the SEIU Blog here.