In America it has always been the aim to provide medical services that are paid for by the individual but affordable health care is becoming difficult to find. Workers are being hit hard by employers anxious to save money on their premiums by reducing cover or passing on the rises in cost. My work health care plan was, until the latter part of 2006, great but now the benefits it supplied have been reduced. Last fall, out of the blue, we were informed that our health care provider was going to be switched to a cheaper alternative.

The company was seeking a more cost effective plan that would benefit all of its employees. Some people will argue of course, that my new insurance is still fantastic and I am fortunate to have it. I don not mind other workers benefiting but it costs me more now, almost twice as much more to have my family covered in the plan. Without a pay increase, my paychecks are now much smaller just so that my family can have cover.

Ok, so my health care is still respectable but the new company that we have is not as good as our previous. It is all very well making the excuse that you are searching for a more affordable health care alternative but it does not wash when you see reducing your income but also out of pocket expenses also. My last policy took care of all the hospital stay when I had my little boy nearly 3 years ago. I sat and worked out the cost of this new plan and if I were to stay in hospital now and have a baby it would cost around 4,000 dollars out of my own pocket.

There are also the co-pays to consider, another cost in addition to the hospital fees I would have to 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. The problem is when a small number of people take advantage of a system that was designed for those that needed it most.

Those less well off are in need of these affordable health care schemes but they are also used by those who are intent on living of the state and do not actually contribute to society. I get annoyed because it is the upright taxpayer who has to finance these schemes for the needy and not the state. It is true to say that my employer is very happy because he found distinct benefits to finding a different health plan program. It worked out just fine for my employers when they switched providers but many of us are paying the price. In the long term we really need to do something in America to help those in need find affordable health care.