CLARKONOMICS: Both the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and IMS Health have reports out that suggest Americans are not filling prescriptions and not going to the doctor because they're financially stretched. When it comes to a choice between filling a prescription and filling up the gas tank, people are opting for the latter.

Medicine is going through a messy transition. Employer-provided healthcare can cost your employer a fortune. Many smaller businesses have discontinued it, while larger businesses have shifted more of the premium cost to the consumer.

So what can you do? Wal-Mart and other retailers have $4 prescriptions for a variety of generic drugs. Print out the list and take it with you to your doctor so he or she can try to write you an affordable script.

Also, you can try using a nurse-in-a-box as an alternative to a standard office visit. You'll find these "mini-offices" staffed by nurse practitioners at supermarkets, drug stores, discounters, etc. Their prices point tends to be around $59 for a visit.

Clark is a big fan of consumer-driven medical care. But consumer-driven medical care does not mean ignoring your health because you can't afford it.