Affordable Health Care

Health care increases are placing a financial burden on many American homes so the need for affordable health care has never been so great. While increased premiums are part of the reason, many employers are reducing the level of cover due to budgetary cutbacks. In this instance I speak with experience because my health care service has reduced this year for the first time ever. This was a shock to everyone; being told that the health care provider was going to be replaced because the cost was too great.

They said that to have a low cost health care scheme for everyone meant we would have to change companies. I suppose some people are better off and perhaps I should not sound ungrateful. To some extent I do agree, but their search for another provider now costs me double the money from my paychecks to have my husband and daughter on my policy. Lower cost cover may be available for all my colleagues now plus the company has saved money but if I want to keep my family on the plan, I will have to settle for a lower income.

OK, so my health care is still respectable but the new company that we have is not as good as our previous. An affordable health care provider may have been the excuse for the change but the only result some of us have seen is higher out of pocket expenses and co-pays, not to mention reduced paychecks. My last policy took care of all the hospital stay when I had my little boy nearly 3 years ago. Working out that same stay with the new plan would mean approximately 4,000 dollars would have to be paid by me.

You also have to bear in mind that this additional expense is just the hospital bill and does not include the additional work fees I must now pay. There is obviously a market for these schemes because more and more affordable health care options are becoming available. Those less fortunate can now get free health care more readily and workers without health care are able to join special schemes. Although these programs are a good idea for those less fortunate there are always people who want to abuse the system.

There are just too many people who want nothing more than the state to pay for them and make it harder for those who are in genuine need of affordable health care, trying to improve their circumstances. We often forget who is ultimately paying for these schemes; us, the taxpayer. It is true to say that my employer is very happy because he found distinct benefits to finding a different health plan program. Having a reduced income seems to be the result of these work changes with only the company truly benefiting. Something needs to be done in this country to offset rising costs and provide more affordable health care to those who are in need.