In the last 15 years health insurance costs have soared for many reasons, one of the most obvious being the growing American reliance upon on prescription drugs. As expensive as they are life-saving, too many people are struggling to pay out-of-pocket costs that include their medications.

The online sale of prescription drugs has boomed in popularity in response to the need for less expensive medications. If you can get your heart medication for 1/4 of the cost online in Canada, who wouldn't? If you could save hundreds of dollars a month in health insurance costs, who wouldn't?

Unfortunately, this same phenomenon has endangered the lives of those who need special medical attention - many prescription drugs can be dangerous, and without proper guidance from a doctor they can lead to overdose and death.

Which is why Kaiser's Daily Health reports that President Bush has asked Congress to pass a bill that would restrict online sales of prescription drugs. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced the legislation in response to the death of Ryan Haight, an 18-year-old who overdosed on hydrocodone that he purchased online.

While such legislation may save the lives of addicts and unknowing victims, it will also land many Americans back in the health insurance situation that they find financially devastating.

The clearest answer to this problem is to make prescription drugs affordable here too, so that those who need them can get them and the medical follow ups that ensure safe use. Hopefully, that bill will find its way to Congress some time very soon.