With the cost of providing a professional medical service to American families rising, it is not surprising that many people are looking for an affordable health care provider. A number of employers have reduced their health care benefits because accountants are working to tighter budgets and the costs of providing this service have risen. My work health care plan was, until the latter part of 2006, great but now the benefits it supplied have been reduced. Out of the blue the company decided to change their health care provider because it was costing them too much.

The company was seeking a more cost effective plan that would benefit all of its employees. I am told that the new insurance package is still very good and I'm lucky to have it. The problem is that in an effort to find a less expensive insurance, having my husband and daughter on the policy is now costing twice the amount it did before. Ok, so many other people benefit, including my company, but my paycheck is considerably lighter now that the premium has doubled to keep my family on the policy.

To be honest, I got on well with the old provider but can't see that happening here even if the health care plan is half decent. It's all very well making the excuse that you are searching for a more affordable health care alternative but it doesn't wash when you see reducing your income but also out of pocket expenses also. It makes more sense when you realize just how good the old policy was because I didn't pay cent when I stayed in hospital 2 years ago giving birth to my daughter. Today, if I had a baby, it would cost me around four thousand dollars for my expenses.

However, that amount is just for the hospital and delivery because I would also have other expenses and that just doesn't seem fair to the majority that are involved. We are now seeing an increasing number of companies creating affordable health care plans. Single mothers, families working for companies that don't offer coverage, low-income households - they are all able to get low cost or even free health care. The problem is when a small number of people take advantage of a system that was designed for those that needed it most.

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. Although I say they can be a burden to the state, I really mean a burden to its citizens because it is the tax payer who foots the bill. Financially speaking, my company saw the real advantage to this switch and some of the employees. All too often this happens where the only one that really benefits is the company, who seem quite happy that many of their employees will take home less. Something needs to be done in this country to offset rising costs and provide more affordable health care to those who are in need.