Elimination Of Safety Nets In An "Era Of Limits"

American consumers are paying more for insurance, as premiums on policies for homes and health continue to rise. Making matters worse, federal and state governments and corporate employers are cutting back on safety net expenditures, passing along more costs to individuals. Consumers are experiencing higher premiums for policies to repay them for losses, and they are paying higher prices for home security and health products to help guard against risks. Increasing prices are forcing individuals to rethink how they protect themselves. Some are going forward without insurance coverage. Others are buying less coverage with higher deductibles. The result is that many consumers are having to shift money from budget lines once reserved for discretionary spending to nondiscretionary budget lines. These realities – less institutional support, higher prices and more items to pay for – make for a troubling time for the many individuals who must rejigger their budgets and play games with real risks just to make ends meet . . . or not, meaning they have to dip into debt.