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Health insurance causes mixed feelings in the majority of Americans. While it can literally save a life during serious injury or illness, it can also be a source of extreme stress and frustration when certain treatments aren't covered or co-payments are unaffordable. The problem has reached epic proportions over the past few decades as spending on health care has spiraled out of control. Many Americans pay hefty premiums each month while many others can't afford the premiums at all and simply choose not to purchase health care. These uninsured and underinsured citizens place a burden on the system as they use hospital emergency rooms for routine care.

As various plans for reform surface in the House and Senate, many Americans have expressed concerns about how their current health care will be affected and whether their benefits will be reduced. One group of people that is watching the health care debate closely is senior citizens who rely on Medicare. President Obama has proposed extensive reforms to the current Medicare system with the goal of reducing wasteful spending. His plan would eliminate subsidies for insurance companies who participate in the Medicare Advantage program, which could result in increased premiums for those participating as well as elimination of certain benefits offered by the Advantage program that are not offered through traditional Medicare. Other ideas that have been proposed include a tax increase for wealthy Americans and higher premiums for seniors making more than $170,000 each year who participate in Medicare. Many seniors have expressed concern that the attempts to reduce Medicare spending could result in decreased benefits, changes in doctors, or certain treatments being denied. While the White House hopes to reach its goal of eliminating wasteful spending without resorting to such measures, critics question how millions of baby boomers coming into the program over the next few years can be covered at the current level of benefits while reducing spending at the same time.

Another closely watched aspect of the new plan is the proposed public health care option. While lawmakers tout the public option as a way to encourage insurance companies to offer lower and more competitive prices while making sure consumers can obtain affordable health care, critics argue that a government funded system would put many private insurers out of business altogether. An alternative idea suggests state specific health care co-ops which would receive initial government funding, but would thereafter need to be self-supporting.

As Americans watch to see where the chips will fall in the health care debate, they should also begin taking action now to find more affordable health care coverage. Employer based systems often provide good coverage at a reasonable cost for individuals, but those without coverage through their place of work should look at various options such as individual coverage, family coverage, and health savings accounts to determine which plan will best meet their needs. Once a plan has been chosen, shopping around is the best way to get the most affordable coverage with the most benefits.

Congress hopes to lessen the burden of health care costs for everyone across the board, but individuals can't wait for the government to solve their health care problems if they hope to see improvement in the near future. As debate proceeds in Washington, Americans should take ownership of their insurance needs by frequently shopping around for the best coverage in order to make sure their families are adequately provided for in the event of illness or injury.