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. 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 know this because I am one of those workers; I have a great job and prior to 2006, I also had an amazingly wonderful health care plan. Suddenly, my employer announced it was getting too expensive and was switching health care providers.

They said that to have a low cost health care scheme for everyone meant we would have to change companies. I am told that the new insurance package is still very good and I'm lucky to have it. The new insurance company may be cheaper for the company but it isn't for me because to have my husband and daughter in the plan costs double what it did with the previous provider. 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.

I liked the previous company and so far I am not as impressed with the new one although the health care plan doesn't seem that bad. 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. You see, four years ago, I gave birth to a little girl and of course my old insurance paid for the whole of my hospital stay. 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.

Keep in mind that although I would have to pay hospital fees, there is also the small matter of my co-pays as well. There is obviously a market for these schemes because more and more affordable health care options are becoming available. 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. Unfortunately, there are always a few that want to ruin it for the rest and this system is prone to misuse.

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. Taxpayers, such as me, are contributing to the vast number of programs currently available. My employer definitely found advantages in finding a lower cost health plan provider for their employees! 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.