MSN Money - Why health care reform matters

Why health care reform matters

If you want to see why health care is so high on the agenda in Washington, D.C., just read the story on "What's most likely to bankrupt you."

Medical problems accounted for 62% of all personal bankruptcies in 2007 (the most recent year studied), up from a mere 8% in 1981. Those busted, according to researchers, included many middle-class families, and more than three-quarters of those had health insurance when they ran into trouble.

No one knows exactly what shape the reform package coming out of the nation's capital will take, or even if one will pass. But the BusinessWeek article is a great look at one facet of the problem.

We've also served up a pair of guides that could help you cut your own costs. Kiplinger offers several ideas on how to "Save thousands on health care -- now." And SmartMoney's "Look abroad for cheaper health care" examines the boom in what's often referred to as medical tourism.