This descriptive study was designed to determine the priority health care needs of the chronically ill and whether perceived health care needs vary at different stages of chronic illness.The investigator developed a Questionnaire and distributed it to patients with a diagnosis of cardiac disease, myasthenia gravis, or epilepsy. Participants were asked to rate the 69 survey items on a 5-point Likert-type scale. A final sample size of 146 was used for statistical analysis.The two priority categories identified for all stages and types of illness was Diagnostic and Treatment Information needs and Models of Care needs. Two stage-specific differences among groups were identified for the period of medical crisis and stage of diagnosis. The major illness-specific variation was that respondents with myasthenia gravis viewed all categories of health care needs as more important than the other two illness groups.