Final answer:
Health care costs should be controlled to prevent high expenditures that surpass free-market conditions and to ensure that Americans do not have to sacrifice other essential needs. There's a complex debate on achieving a balance in the health care system between costs, quality, and access. Controlling costs could lead to economic benefits and health care access for everyone.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rising health care costs should be controlled because Americans have to forgo other goods and services when more is spent on health care, and unless we control costs, total health care expenditures will far exceed what they would be under free-market conditions. This is due to several factors, including the fact that the United States has high health care prices and a system that encourages demand for health care services without corresponding gains in health outcomes. The moral hazard of private health insurance stimulates higher consumption of health services, which, along with high prices, contributes to these rising costs.
Consequently, the cost of products, like automobiles, can increase due to the health insurance expenses shouldered by manufacturers. Additionally, the high costs can incentivize companies to move jobs overseas where health care is cheaper, leading to a loss in tax revenue.
Health care system reform is complex, with contentious debates concerning privatized versus socialized systems and how to achieve a balance of quality, access, and cost. Some advocate for individual responsibility in purchasing insurance, while others suggest that government provision could lower overall costs and provide more equal access. Ultimately, the challenge is to control the high costs while maintaining high-quality care and ensuring access to health care for all.