A recent report completed jointly by ID Experts and the Ponemon Institute showed that healthcare-related data breaches are occurring more frequently, and it is costing the industry billions of dollars.

The "2011 Benchmark Study on Patient Privacy and Data Security" showed that data breaches for health insurance providers and other healthcare organizations rose by 32 percent, and the companies examined had an average of four issues. On average, this costs $6.5 billion annually, but could reach to more than $8 billion some years.

"Hospital employees are exposing patient data like the back of a hospital gown," said Rick Kam, president and co-founder of ID Experts. "Identity theft and medical identity theft resulting from data breach exposure are commonplace, causing patients financial harm, frustration and embarrassment. Hospitals must vaccinate against data breach risks in order to take better care of patients and their data."

The effect on individual health insurance could be notable, as affordable health insurance rates may be harder to find if costs increase. In addition, it may be a wise decision for consumers to try to lock in a lower health insurance rate now.

A recent survey from Surgical Information Systems showed nearly eight in 10 healthcare executives are in favor of reducing the costs in the operating room.

There has been a one-third increase in operating room costs since 2010 and one quarter of hospitals are very concerned about cost reimbursements. This figure declined form 2010 to 2011 by nearly 60 percent.

Nearly every executive surveyed noted their belief that optimizing operating efficiently was important. The figure has been on the rise in recent months, and the survey found that the sentiment increased more than 7.5 percent in the past year.

"The payment reductions facing providers over the next 10 years require healthcare finance leaders to move beyond cost containment strategies," said Richard Clarke, president and chief executive officer for the Healthcare Financial Management Association. "Instead, organizations need to improve efficiency by removing waste and duplication within the delivery system.

Consumers who are concerned about affordable health insurance rates may want to examine health insurance quotes to see what is the best plan available for the money. 

A recent release from LTC Financial Partners noted that consumers should speak to their elderly relatives about their plans for long-term care, and the holidays may be the perfect opportunity to bring it up.

Health insurance is a big part of the conversation, as a consumer needs to determine if a government-sponsored plan is a good plan, the release said. In addition, for those not looking for a public plan, it may be a good idea to search for affordable health insurance quotes.

"Why not make every Thanksgiving, from here on, a little more hopeful - by attacking the long-term care threat now?" said Denise Gott, national sales manager and chairman of the board of LTC Financial Partners. "Consider all the thinking and discussing you do just to plan for the turkey dinner and getting together. Why not make time for a side conversation on long-term care - an issue vital to everyone's future happiness?"

It may be wise for a family to determine where the person will live when receiving long-term care, the release added. This is especially true if another family member needs to adjust their own housing situation.

With a congressional super committee unable to come to an agreement to cut Medicare costs, a standard 2 percent cut was put in place, but significant trimming could be looming in 2013, according to Reuters.

Overall, there is more than $700 billion that will be cut from the federal budget in the next 10 years, and more than $100 billion of it is attached to Medicare. However, some lawmakers had made their intended changes, cuts could have reached $700 billion.

The current default cut isn't worrying some industry professionals, though.

"Two percent is not a lot for Medicare to absorb," Joseph Antos of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, told the news source. "About all that happens is a few more providers, like doctors and hospitals, stop accepting new Medicare patients."

If no changes are on the horizon, healthcare programs sponsored by the government, as well as Social Security, will use up all revenue from taxes by 2047, the news source added.

Consumers may want to keep an eye on legislation, as it could have significant impacts on affordable health insurance rates.

A recent report from the Advertising Specialty Institute recently showed that approximately 90 percent of American corporations offer some sort of wellness program that encourages healthy living, and many include participation incentives.

The report cites another study from the Incentive Research Foundation which notes that only 20 percent of consumers would take part in such a program if there was no incentive attached to it. However, once there was a reason to join the plan, six in 10 employees would join in.

"It's clear from ASI's research that companies can attain a significant ROI through wellness programs - but while 90 percent of U.S. corporations provide employee wellness programs, only 44 percent offer promotional products as incentives for participation," said Timothy Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI. "There's clearly room for growth in this market. It's good for business, and it's great for reducing skyrocketing health-care costs."

For consumers who lead healthy lives, if their workplace does not offer such programs, it may be a good idea to go online and examine affordable health insurance rates while encouraging their company to adopt one. Finding the best plan for them may not be complicated or confusing.