| Health insurance costs are a hot-button topic | | | | that you belong to. A surprising number offer |
| right now. The problem is being debated at | | | | group health insurance to their members. Ask |
| the highest levels of government and it's | | | | your friends if any group, club or |
| possible that someday a solution to this | | | | organizations that they belong to offers |
| problem will be reached. In the meantime it | | | | group health insurance. If so, consider |
| is up to each and every one of us to do | | | | joining. |
| whatever is necessary to find ways of | | | | |
| reducing the cost of our health care | | | | Ask at your place or worship. Many church |
| insurance on our own. | | | | groups offer discount health insurance to |
| | | | their members. |
| Fortunately there are ways for you to reduce | | | | |
| your health insurance costs and we're going | | | | Use credit cards wisely. Believe it or not, |
| to explore a few of them here. | | | | your credit report affects how much you pay |
| | | | for your health insurance. The healthier your |
| If you're really serious about reducing your | | | | credit score the less you'll pay for your |
| cost of health insurance then we need to | | | | health insurance. |
| start with your lifestyle. Do you smoke? Do | | | | |
| you use chew or any other tobacco product? If | | | | When was the last time you checked your |
| so, then you are not helping your cause. | | | | co-pay percentage? Many people start out |
| Tobacco users pay 30% to 50% more for health | | | | paying 20% or 25% as a co-payment when they |
| insurance than non-smokers. | | | | visit their doctor's office. If you can |
| | | | afford to increase your co-pay to 50% you |
| If you smoked when you took out a health | | | | will save a tremendous amount every month on |
| insurance policy but you have since quit it | | | | your health premium. This tactic works best |
| is important that you let your insurance | | | | for people who do not see their doctor on a |
| agent know this as it can trigger a reduction | | | | regular basis. |
| in your monthly premium payment. | | | | |
| | | | Can you afford to increase your deductible? |
| What's your weight like? Being overweight | | | | This is a serious question and you should |
| also increases the cost of health insurance. | | | | give it some real thought. The higher your |
| Losing weight is more difficult than quitting | | | | deductible the lower your monthly health |
| smoking for most Americans, but the good news | | | | insurance premium - but by the same token, |
| is that if you can lose even a few pounds you | | | | the higher your deductible the more money you |
| may move down one rung on the insurance | | | | have to pay out of your own pocket or purse |
| company's weight chart and that could | | | | each year before you can ask your insurance |
| potentially save you hundreds of dollars | | | | company to help you out. Don't offer to pay |
| every single year. | | | | more than you can comfortably afford. |
| | | | |
| If you regularly participate in any type of | | | | Finally it's time to go online and find at |
| extreme or dangerous sport or hobby then you | | | | least three of the websites designed to let |
| will not get the best rates on health | | | | you compare prices on health insurance |
| insurance in Alabama or any other state. The | | | | policies from different insurance companies. |
| same goes for driving a fast sports car or | | | | |
| driving most muscle cars. | | | | You'll have to fill out the form on at least |
| | | | 3 websites if you want to be sure of seeing |
| Anything you do that puts your life or health | | | | the prices from every insurance company in |
| at risk is going to increase your health | | | | Alabama and you have to be careful to enter |
| insurance premium. | | | | the exact same information on each form so |
| | | | that you are comparing the same policy each |
| Buying group health insurance can save you a | | | | time, but once you are finished all you need |
| lot of money. If your work-place does not | | | | to do is to find the company with the best |
| offer group health insurance then ask around | | | | rate and your job is done! |
| at all of the clubs, organizations or groups | | | | |