Health care cost concern

New Haven (WNTH) - The rising cost of health care weighs heavily on the minds of nearly half of all Americans, results of a new poll show.

Behind a mortgage many will tell you health care is a major cost out of their monthly budget, and because many people fear losing their jobs they are running to the doctor while they still can.

The overhaul of the country's health care system has been tried before and failed. This time around the Congressional Budget Office says changes total about $1 trillion over 10 years, but leaves 37 million people without coverage.

PricewaterhouseCoopers recently released a report about future health care costs. They found costs are expected to rise 9-percent in 2010. Rising unemployment is driving up medical costs, the firm said.

A University of Michigan study found nearly half of all Americans are worried about paying for future care. [ Details of study here]

• 46-percent worry about affording coverage
• 24-percent fear losing coverage

Government statistics show the average health care cost this year for every man, woman and child in the U.S. is $8,160.