How to choose a good health care plan?

Locating affordable health care for Americans is not as easy as it used to be. Increasingly, workers are finding themselves on the receiving end from their employers who are reducing the services provided or passing on the increases. My work health care plan was, until the latter part of 2006, great but now the benefits it supplied have been reduced. The first we knew about it was when the company called a meeting informing of some changes including the switch to a cheaper health care provider.The excuse was that they were trying to ensure the new package would help everyone in the company. I am told that the new insurance package is still very good and I am lucky to have it. It is not that I am against other workers getting a good deal but they are now taking twice the amount out of my salary so that my husband and daughter are covered. 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 cannot see that happening here even if the health care plan is half decent. As far as I and some of my co-workers are concerned, the only real person to benefit form this new *affordable* health care arrangement is my company. 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. The availability of affordable health care plans is on the increase which should help those less fortunate. For workers in companies without health care plans and single mums for instance, this is a God send. Unfortunately, there are always a few that want to ruin it for the rest and this system is prone to misuse.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. We all have a responsibility to help those less fortunate but those who abuse the system put extra financial pressure on the rest of us. It is true to say that my employer is very happy because he found distinct benefits to finding a different health plan program. Many of the workers found themselves subsidizing the companys desire to save money yet still provide a scheme by ensuring that they paid in their paychecks. Affordable health care is a long term issue that needs addressing in this country because it is those worst off who are affected.