There are some that think free health insurance is a thing of the present, and of the future. There are those that believe that health insurance costs are going to be minimal. It's a nice idea for many to believe in, but the reality of the situation is that health care is anything but free. For those that believe the cost of going to a doctor will be exempt, they need to think again.

Today, health care is as expensive as it's ever been. A trip to the doctor is expensive, the testing that might be done is expensive, and the cost to the patient continues to be on the rise. The reason for these escalating costs are tied in to individual reasons.

A doctor is expensive because many doctors have to pay a very steep price for their malpractice insurance. This can cost doctors an enormous amount of money because law suits are so commonplace in the medical field. In order to keep their own profits high, they can charge a lot for routine visits.

The tests that a patient might take can be costly because the operation of medical services isn't run like a needful service to people, but rather as a business. For this, a hospital and the laboratory services it provides is interested in maximizing the dollars.

The cost to the patient is in direct conflict with the free health insurance idea. There is nothing that suggests the patient will ever pay less when it's clear that the patient is paying more. Many companies have dropped their HMO option. The HMO offered patients a fixed rate on their medical services. The companies are now going with the PPO and that is leaving patients to have to pay for a percentage of their services.

The truth is that even with proposed cuts to the individual on health insurance costs, there will still be money to be paid. Even if the health care reform includes no co-payments to the patient, the money will have to come from somewhere. As long as health care is run like big business, the more likely it is that the patients will pay for services. If they aren't paying out of their pockets in the doctors office, then they will be paying for it from an increase in the tax rate. These costs don't factor in the money people lose from lack of jobs due to illness or the travel costs to go to and from the hospital. There are serious costs these days when it comes to health insurance, and free health care is a myth.