According to the most recent Census Bureau survey results, 45.8 million Americans do not have health insurance! Of those, 60% of people have full time jobs and 3.5 million of those people earn more than $75,000 per year. Many people who do not have access to group health insurance plans, such as the self employed, are taking their chances without insurance because they fear the high cost of personal health insurance plan costs.
While health insurance is an added expense, the cost of just one major injury can far exceed the cost of any annual health care plan.
Health insurance doesn't need to be ridiculously expensive. Being self employed, I faced the same dilemma when I sought out a personal health insurance plan. To find out how I could save money, I interviewed insurance agents to find out what steps I could take to reduce my monthly health insurance costs.
In this article, we'll look at 5 simple things that everyone can do to dramatically lower their health care costs.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Keeping your weight within an average range for your age and height can help you qualify for the best health insurance rates. Being morbidly obese can cause health insurance rates to increase by 7 times the quoted rate.
Don't Use Tobacco
Tobacco use of any kind, including chewing tobacco can increase your health insurance rates by 30%! The fact that tobacco use causes such a significant increase is a testament to its inherent health risks. Not only will quitting smoking or using chewing tobacco improve your health drastically, it's an instant way to reduce your health care costs.
Control Type II Diabetes
Those with Type II Diabetes automatically receive a 30% increase - and that is with a healthy A1C. Those with an unhealthy A1C often pay even more. In a majority of cases, controlling weight and eating right can eliminate Type II diabetes.
Find Natural Ways to De-Stress
Dependence on anti-depressants and anti-stress medications are automatic health insurance rate increases. Stress related illnesses are one of the driving factors of health care costs. Instead, try exploring natural ways to reduce stress and anxiety such as lifestyle changes, yoga, and meditation.
Lower Cholesterol
Risk factors of heart disease such as high cholesterol can significantly increases rates. Exercise, healthy eating, and monitoring your cholesterol can help you to reduce your risk of heart disease.
