Health care workers and those who represent citizens who may not have health insurance marched in Charleston Tuesday.

About a dozen people with the group ‘Health Care for America Now’ walked three blocks holding signs urging West Virginians to back health care reform and the lawmakers who are pushing for it.

Sam Hickman, the CEO of the West Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, says many state residents don't know how close they are to losing their health care benefits.

"I think we are just around the corner from people learning the hard way how important it is,” Hickman said. “Many of our corporations and our business people have insulated consumers from the true cost of health insurance. I don't know how much longer they can afford to do that and still remain competitive."

Hickman says that's why it's so important that Congress pass a health care reform bill that would cover all Americans.

The protesters ended their march across the street from Charleston Area Medical Center. Gary Zuckett with West Virginia Citizens Action Group drew chalk outlines on the sidewalk to show the damage he says the insurance industry has created.

"The big insurance companies, in order to increase their profits, they deny care everyday,” Zuckett claims. “They block access to the hospitals and to the doctor's offices and to life-saving procedures for people all over this nation. We think it’s a crime!"

Pam McMillian, a nurse, says she sees the damage insurance companies have brought down on the American people every time she goes into work.

"It's about policies! We have nobody to complain about the policies! We have nobody to protect us!"