The high price of a health care can make any family fall into debt. In addition, the price of medical care has gone up faster than income. �Premiums for employer-sponsored health coverage rose an average 7.7 percent in 2006�premiums still increased more than twice as fast as workers� wages (3.8 percent) and overall inflation (3.5 percent). Premiums have increased 87 percent over the past six years. Family health coverage now costs an average $11,480 annually, with workers paying an average of $2,973 toward those premiums, about $1,354 more than in 2000� (�Health Insurance Premium�).  The reason why the price of health care is so high is quite simple. Scientists are making newer more expensive drugs to cure ailments. �There are many newer, more expensive drugs on the market, and the use of these prescriptions is exploding�(�The Rising Cost of Health Care�).In addition, another factor that contributes to the high price of health care is the advancement in treatment to cure certain diseases. �Over the past decade, scientists have made significant advancements in the treatment of certain diseases. Unfortunately, just like any new product, the cost of developing these new technologies and treatments is extremely high� (�The Rising Cost of Health Care�). With new technology being developed, a demand for these advancements is created, and the cost of meeting these demands can make the prices go up. �More and more people with medical insurance are relying on the health care system as new technologies and treatments become available. This leads to a greater number of claims for payment by insurance companies, the costs of which are passed back to health care consumers� (�The Rising Cost of Health Care�). As a result, the high price is deterring more people away from not getting care. In worst cases, if a person gets help, he or she may go into debt just trying to pay of their medical bill.
            There are certain things a family member can do to avoid getting into debt. One thing that most family members should do in order to stay debt free is start saving money and do not buy anything on borrowed money (credit card, loan, etc.). The main reason a person falls into debt is because he or she does not know how to manage his or her spending, and when it comes to credit cards, a person is more giving because a credit card can seem like fake money. Another way a family member can avoid getting into debt is by recording all of their spending, and sees where all of the money is going; root out all the unnecessary spending. Moreover, when a person goes shopping, he or she might want to take as much money as they need and shop around. In addition, if parent does not want to be struck with the high cost of a sibling going to college, he or she should prepare a college saving in advance. In addition, a person should not be worried about all the technological doodads another person has, and live the simple life.
            If a family is in debt, there are certain things they can do to get out. A family member can create a budget. �You want to reverse the process that got you in over your head with consumer debt in the first place, and with most people that meant that they're spending exceeded their income� (Seeking A Solution). A family member can also prioritize their debt: �Pay off the highest interest rate cards first. "But even before you do that, would be to take those highest-rate cards and transfer the balances on the lower interest rate cards,"� (Seeking a Solution). If a person has any savings he or she can use that money to pay whatever they can on their debt. A person can also use a debit card as an alternative to a credit card. The advantage of a debit card is that there is no interest rate and no bill. The money comes right out of a person savings. Worse case scenario, if a person is a homeowner he or she can take out of their equity but as a last alternative. �[B]e careful: Using your home's equity is not a solution to a chronic debt problem.� (Seeking A Solution).
The extraneous price of everyday necessities can make anybodies wallet or purse hurt. Are wages going to catch up with the rising cost of everyday necessities? It seems that the government seems to be hiking the prices of everyday necessities, but when it comes to people�s wages, they are not rising with their necessities. Can the price of everyday necessities stay stagnate? Only time will tell. The only thing that anybody can do is tough it out and in worse case scenario seek help either from family or through friends. There is help out there if you are willing to find it.





                                                               
Works Cited

"Goodbye Middle Class; Hello House Poor." Sfgroup. 07 July 2005. Benson�s Economic & Market Trends. 01 Dec. 2006 <http://www.sfgroup.org/Goodbye%20Middle%20Class.htm>.

Gunderson, Dan. "The High Cost of Housing." MPR. 2006. 26 Nov. 2006 <http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/01/27_gundersond_poorhome/>.

"Health Insurance Premium Growth Moderates Slightly In 2006, But Still Increases Twice As Fast As Wages And Inflation." 26 Sept. 2006. Kaiser Family Foundation. 01 Dec. 2006 <http://www.kff.org/insurance/ehbs092606nr.cfm>.

"Lifting the Weight of College Textbooks Cost." Policy Matters. Mar. 2005. American Association of State Colleges and Universities. 01 Dec. 2006 <http://www.aascu.org/policy_matters/pdf/v2n3.pdf>.

"Section 8 Wait List Closes for an Indefinite Period of Time." 18 Aug. 2006. Northeast Washington Housing Solutions. 01 Dec. 2006 <http://www.spokanehousing.org/housing/waitlistclosed.htm>.

Thelen, David. "The Importance of the Internet for Teens." Kidspeak. 2002. 01 Dec. 2006 <http://www.4teachers.org/kidspeak/thelan/index.shtml>.

"The Rising Cost of Health Care." University of Pennsylvania Almanac. 06 Dec. 2006. 6 Dec. 2006 <http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/v48/n25/HealthCosts.html>.

Worsnop, Richard L. "Getting Into College." CQ Researcher 6.8 (1996): 169-192. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Learning Resource Center. 29 Nov. 2006 <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1996022300>.

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