The factual data on the costs of health insurance and health care present a disturbing trend -- that the cost of health care, even with insurance, is growing for all Americans. Facts gathered by the Kaiser Family Foundation, which tracks health care spending and health insurance trends, point toward health care becoming unaffordable for many Americans if costs continue to grow; as insurance becomes more expensive, few can afford it, and those without insurance can rarely afford health care.
Spending Higher
Spending on health-related costs has risen steadily -- and dramatically -- in the United States just within the last 10 years. In fact, health-related costs have doubled since 1998, with America spending $1.2 billion on health care in 1998, and $2.5 billion in 2008.
Insurance Costs
Having health insurance is no guarantee of protection against rising health care costs, as the costs of health insurance have risen in tandem with spending. Both employer-sponsored and individual health insurance costs have risen substantially in the 2000s. While costs of group health insurances have risen steadily, the rising cost of individual health insurance policies has skyrocketed; the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that those with individual health insurance policies have endured double-digit rate increases repeatedly throughout the past 10 years. The astronomical cost of individual health insurance has resulted in fewer being able to afford coverage.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Those who are lucky enough to have health insurance are finding that even with insurance, health care is growing more expensive, as insurers look to pass the growing cost of health care onto the insured. Out-of-pocket costs are rising in the form of deductibles and copays for medical care such as physician's visits and hospitalization. Those with health insurance are expected to foot more of the bill before insurance begins to pay, and at the point of service.
Prescription Costs
Along with rising insurance costs and out-of-pocket costs, the cost of prescription benefits are also climbing. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that copays for those with prescription drug benefits through an employer-sponsored health insurance plan have grown steadily from 2000 to 2010. For instance, the copays for second-tier, or preferred prescriptions, have gone from an average $15 copay in 2000 to an average $28 copay in 2010, almost doubling the cost.
Considerations
Data gathered on health insurance costs during the past decade show overwhelmingly that the cost of health care in the United States is growing each year. As health insurance becomes more expensive in the form of premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, even those with insurance find that health care is less affordable.
Considerations
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