Today in America, many more of its population is in need of affordable health care. Although there has been a rise over the last few years in providing this service to employees, a number of companies are using this as an excuse for a cost cutting exercise. I am one of those people affected by these rises because a couple of years ago my company's health care plan was changed, resulting in fewer benefits. Suddenly, my employer announced it was getting too expensive and was switching health care providers.

They said it was necessary if all their employees were to have the same level of health care. I am told that the new insurance package is still very good and I'm lucky to have it. I don't mind other workers benefiting but it costs me more now, almost twice as much more to have my family covered in the plan. Taking a good deal less home in my paycheck to have my family remain on the healthcare policy seems to be the only option I have because almost everyone else is happy with the new arrangement.

From what I have seen, this new company we are with is not in the same league as the old one even though I still seem to have a reasonably good plan. To my mind the whole point of providing this ‘new' affordable health care scheme was a cost cutting exercise for the company which just meant greater expense for some of their employees. I am sure of this because just over 2 years ago when I had my little boy, the stay in hospital was completely covered by my insurance policy. This new plan, under similar circumstances however, would personally cost me in excess of 5,000 dollars.

This figure does not take into account additional amounts I must pay out of my salary. We are now seeing an increasing number of companies creating affordable health care plans. Those less fortunate can now get free health care more readily and workers without health care are able to join special schemes. In principle, these plans are a good thing but there are always those that misuse it making the situation difficult for genuine cases.

For many people desperately trying to improve their situation these affordable health care plans are a life-line but to others they are just an easy option. I get annoyed because it's the upright taxpayer who has to finance these schemes for the needy and not the state. The health plan program my employer found definitely had improved financial benefits for him. Less take home pay was the result of my company's health provider switch with many of its workforce the ones seeing less money to take home for their families. Providing health care which is affordable for Americans needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later.