When a person becomes ill and needs medication, in most cases they can easily obtain a prescription drug that will treat their ailment. However, even with the best health insurance available, some conditions can't be treated because they are resistant to frequently used medications.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority recently announced they are awarding funds worth between $27 and $464 million in contracts to help support research of antibiotics used to fight bioterrorism and antibiotic resistant infections.

"This new antibiotic is part of our push against antibiotic resistance for certain bacterial infections, and at the same time could provide a new treatment for plague and tularemia biothreats," said BARDA Director Dr. Robin Robinson. "It's the first time BARDA research and development funds have been used in a multi-use approach like this."

The National Network for Immunization Information says antibiotic resistance is growing in common illnesses such as meningitis and pneumonia. They cite the frequent use of antibiotics, sometimes when not necessary, for the growing level of resistance.

With the unemployment rate still high at 9.5 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a number of people are relying on Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act for their health insurance needs. COBRA allows people to stay on their employers health insurance plan at their own expense.

Research by consulting firm Aon says COBRA is being strained from the increased number of people relying on the coverage. They report that more people are utilizing COBRA services as they get closer to losing the coverage all together.

Aon senior vice president Tom Lerche says people should expect to see additional expenses coming their way.

"In addition, we expect to see new costs related to excise taxes and potential cost shifting from reductions in Medicare reimbursement to providers, which will be on top of existing long-term medical trend inflation," Lerche said. "These factors will lead many employers to consider increased employee contributions for health coverage, as well as plan design cost sharing."

Employees have already begun to pay higher health insurance premiums. The Kaiser Family Foundation says premiums for employer-sponsored plans increased almost 8 percent from 2005 to 2006 and just over 9 percent the year before that.

It could be said that the best way to treat a condition is to prevent it from happening at all. That is why preventative care services can play such an important role in a person's health and in keeping costs down for health insurance companies and employers.

A survey by the Midwest Business Group on Health looked into the relationship between employers and preventative care services. Virtually all employers surveyed said that they played a role in their staff getting preventative care services. Also, the survey shows that employers are mainly motivated to offer such services because they can help keep employees healthy and more productive.

"Employers are increasingly investing resources in preventive care and wellness programs to reduce health care costs and improve the health and productivity of their employees," said MBGH president and CEO Larry Boress.

Getting screened for certain conditions like diabetes, for example, can greatly reduce health care costs down the road. If a patient knows they are at risk for developing the disease, they can alter their lifestyle to reduce their chances.

With the signing of the Affordable Care Act comes many changes. It's not just the health insurance companies who anticipate feeling a financial pinch in the future. Employers who are offering health insurance as a benefit foresee having to reexamine their budgets as well.

According to a survey by the National Business Group on Health, 53 percent of large U.S. employers surveyed anticipate making changes to their benefits plans. Additionally, 25 percent of employers said they plan on increasing co-payments for prescription drugs.

National Business Group on Health president Helen Darling says that employers must be aware of the financial impact health care will have on their company financially.

"While the health reform law has forced employers to evaluate their health care benefit strategies and decide whether to comply with the law or lose grandfathered status, they haven't lost sight of the fact that controlling rising costs remains one of, if not their highest priority," said Darling. "They have to foot the bill, not the government."

Many people obtain their health insurance coverage through their employer. Those who do not have that option turn to the government for assistance or pay for the coverage on their own.

The high cost of health insurance is driving some employers to look into innovative ways to maintain group health insurance, but also keep expenses down. The Kaiser Family Foundation says that health insurance costs rose 4.4 percent in 2008, a smaller increase than seen in previous years.

One way some employers are trying to keep costs down is through preventative care measures. Interactive programs, like Medforma's next-generation health portrait platform, allows employers to get an idea of how healthy their staff is.

"With our latest advancements, employers will receive invaluable information to help them better manage health costs and wellness investments," said Medforma CEO Kye Anderson. "At less than $50 per employee per year, our platform is highly affordable, but the advantages are substantial, especially considering the high cost of keeping employees healthy and productive."

Medforma asserts that the majority of health care costs come from diseases that are preventable. Conditions like type 2 diabetes can be controlled and even prevented if appropriate actions are taken. Monitoring programs may help detect lifestyle shortcomings and alert people to take steps to make them healthier before conditions develop.