Barbara Montgomery works as a nurse for the Medicaid Department with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services in southern Ohio. She regularly sees patients who've lost their health insurance apply for Medicaid, and many are denied Medicaid because of ineligibility. But her experience with our health care crisis is much more personal.

Barbara's grandson was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at age 15. Because her grandson had health insurance through his father, he underwent a successful surgery. Followup MRIs showed signs of recovery for a few years, but they recently showed that his brain tumor is back, and he will need additional surgery.

The problem is that the insurance policy for Barbara's grandson's requires him to remain enrolled in college, but the Great Recession has made those college costs unaffordable. The prospect of a major surgery without insurance is frightening to the extent that it's even possible.

Furthermore, without health insurance reform, her grandson's pre-existing condition will leave him unable to enroll in another health plan once his current coverage stops.

Hear Barbara describe these circumstances and why they underscore the need for continued coverage for all Americans as part of comprehensive health insurance reform: