I can only afford to pay health insurance premiums for my two lead teachers. This costs $349/month per person.  I would love to be able to afford health insurance for all the staff. When I hire for new positions they do ask about benefits, so it does affect who will take the jobs. With my current revenue - primarily state subsidy payments with parent co-payments - I can not afford to pay any more for benefits.  I could not even afford the lower cost insurance being proposed by the Governor's Cover All Pennsylvanians. For my eight employees that would be about $1,040 compared to the $700 I am paying now. I just don't have an extra $300/month. How many candy bars do they expect us to sell?

Tyanna Richburg, Teacher, February 2008 

I had health insurance when I was on welfare. Now that I am working I no longer qualify. This isn't fair. Last Saturday I had to go to the emergency room. It turned out I had an ear infection. Now I'm worried about the bill I'll receive. People in my position avoid going to the doctor when they're sick because we are worried about getting a bill we can't afford, and worried about missing work if we don't have enough sick days and would therefore lose money by staying home. This results in more illness being spread.