As an educator for more than 40 years I have seen the impact of poor health care on our school-aged children. It robs them of learning time in school and life opportunities as they grow up. Let's expand Medicaid. As Virginians, public health is more important than partisanship.

There is a line in an old folk song that says "if living was a thing that money could buy, you know the rich would live and the poor would die." Of course that is exactly what happens. I have insurance, can well afford my medical care, and just had a triple heart bypass that saved my life. However I know several people right here in this area who have no ability to buy the medical insurance they need. This is a life and death issue.

I was recently as the Town Hall in Charlottesville, VA to discuss my concerns and thoughts about the Medicaid expansion. To my dismay my own Delegate Rob Bell did not show up. I have always thought highly of him, and wish I could have asked him about his ideas on the Expanded Medicaid. Our delegates have the power to fundamentally change the health care system in our state is in your hands. By expanding Medicaid, low-income Virginians will have access to health coverage, and there is potential to undo the profound health disparities in our state. Please understand, this includes individuals who work, yet cannot afford healthcare. As it stands, working individuals, like me, who are uninsured are likelier to develop serious health complications or die younger from diseases that are all too often preventable. By gaining health insurance through Medicaid, we would add health coverage for more than half-a-million Virginians within five years who otherwise would remain under insured. I am urging Rob Bell to implement the Medicaid Expansion for low-income individuals under the Affordable Care Act so that all of our state can remain healthy and strong. Right now I have paid for two necessary and health threatening operations out of pocket. I am in need of a third. Because I cannot pay for the surgery I end up in the ER for pain medicines and to make sure that my condition has not worsened. Please give people a fighting chance in Virginia. It's not about politics, it is about doing what is right. If I do not receive the medical care that I need, then I will not be able to work. Most likely I will have to claim disability, and get food stamps (which we do not receive now). Please give us working folks a chance. I am sure if our delegates were in our financial situation, they would understand. Please sign the petition and let them know that we, in Virginia care for others. We care about our people, and we think that healthcare should be expanded to help families like mine.

Many people need help. Don't give up this opportunity to get Medicaid at a fraction of its cost to states. It would be stupid! Hear this.

It is to request our state delegate Kirkland Cox to support the Medicaid expansion coverage debate that will take place in Richmond next week, to Virginians that indeed need it. To take care of those members of our society who can not take care of themselves because of different circumstances signify our moral strength and virtues of our civilized culture.

I am one of hundreds of thousands of Virginians who do not have any form of medical insurance. Expanding Medicaid would help people like me, protect our rural hospitals from closing, and strengthen the state economy. It's the right thing to do.

This should be easy, but it's not. Virginia is missing out on $5 million each day because some people want to obstruct Obamacare. Nearly 200,000 Virginians need Medicaid coverage and our tax dollars aren't coming back to help them or secure health care jobs.

Delegate Landes--I am sure you know about the thousands of rural Virginians who can't afford health care who come, tired and desperate, to the annual one-summer-weekend mobile medical clinic in Wise to get help. We need more than that to keep Virginians healthy and able to work. Please support the expansion of Medicaid.

Because expanding health care coverage in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited for individuals who are unemployed, or with limited or no income is important for preventative health care and to assist individuals with chronic health issues. As a mental health provider, this is important to my community where access to healthcare is a chronic issue and can affect mental health as a result.

Expand health care for those who are struggling without it.

As a volunteer working to advance health and quality of life for Virginia seniors, I see how devastating the lack of medical care can be for those who cannot afford insurance coverage. We need to act now to close the coverage gap and assure that all Virginia citizens have access to the care they need.

I have asthma and hypothyroidism. I am still young, but I am only able to lead my active lifestyle with careful medical monitoring, which is very expensive. Please expand Medicaid in Virginia!