SARASOTA, Florida (CNN)  -- On a recent afternoon, Pamela Rinchich quietly recalled how her cancer doctor abruptly canceled an appointment. Rinchich owed $268 from a previous visit: She didn't have the money and the doctor refused to see her until she paid. Pamela Rinchich, with husband Jim, was diagnosed with cancer shortly after being laid off. "I offered to do whatever I could, even work in the office to cover it," said Rinchich, with tears in her eyes. Just a few months earlier, life was going great for Rinchich. She was planning a wedding with her fiancé, Jim, and she had a good job as a supervisor at the Honeywell plant in Sarasota, Florida.
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For many Americans, job loss equals loss of health insurance
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In the last three months alone, more than 1.7 million jobs have evaporated
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Under the president's new plan, the government will cover part of COBRA costs
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Many Americans will have to wait for more complete health care reform
At first, @placeholder still was covered under Honeywell's health insurance plan.