Health Care Trends and Holding the Line on Costs

The increasing reliance on third party payment of health care costs has resulted in people assuming less personal financial responsibility for their own health care. Lessened personal financial responsibility has resulted in greater use of the Health Care System and so has led to greater costs for health care. This increased cost has focused attention on cost control and implementation of measures designed to control costs. The cost control measures, however, are flawed. Were the purchase of health care once again to become subject to consumers' buying decisions, health care costs would be brought under control.