| Health insurance is probably one of the | | | | require that you only see plan doctors - if your |
| most-contested political issues facing this country | | | | current doctor is not a plan member then you |
| right now, and it's possible that someday | | | | may have to switch doctors. |
| something will be done to make health care | | | | Do you belong to any clubs, organizations or |
| insurance more affordable for more people. But in | | | | associations? You'd be surprised how often groups |
| the meantime it is going to be up to each and | | | | that you would never think of offer their |
| every one of us to do the best we can and to | | | | members discount group health insurance. Ask if |
| find ways to lower the cost of our health | | | | your friends belong to any groups, clubs or |
| insurance on our own. | | | | organizations that offer group health - and if so, |
| But there is a lot more we can all do to find | | | | join them. Even some religious organizations are |
| lower-cost health care insurance. | | | | now offering group health insurance, so ask |
| Start by developing a healthier lifestyle. This | | | | around. |
| includes quitting smoking and using all tobacco | | | | Obviously the larger of a deductible you can |
| products. As difficult as this is for most people | | | | afford the lower your monthly premium cost for |
| the fact is that people who do not smoke and | | | | health insurance. Be honest with yourself when it |
| who do not use chew or other tobacco products | | | | comes to your deductible since you will have to |
| pay a lot less for their health insurance. If you | | | | find this money yourself to pay for your own |
| really want affordable health insurance then you'll | | | | health care before your insurance company begins |
| bite the bullet and quit smoking. | | | | picking up the tab. |
| Unfortunately the same goes for being | | | | If you're still having trouble affording health |
| overweight. Your BMI (Body Mass Index) helps to | | | | insurance but you have a home, a savings |
| determine your cost of health insurance. | | | | account or other assets that you really need to |
| However, even if you can just lose a few pounds | | | | protect, consider purchasing a |
| you can sometimes drop down a notch on the | | | | super-high-deductible policy, a health insurance |
| insurance company's BMI index and if that | | | | policy with a deductible of $2,000 or even more. |
| happens you can potentially save hundreds of | | | | These comparatively cheap policies are not |
| dollars a year in health care costs. | | | | designed to help with normal doctor's visits or |
| Don't engage in extreme sports or dangerous | | | | even most out-patient procedures. The purpose |
| hobbies. And sell that sleek and fast sports car if | | | | of these policies is to cover your medical |
| you are truly serious about affordable health | | | | expenses if you should have a catastrophic |
| insurance. | | | | accident or suffer a major illness. |
| If you have a home based business or if you are | | | | Now take the tips you have gathered from this |
| self employed there may be ways for your agent | | | | article and then find at least 3 websites that allow |
| to qualify you for group rates. But even if you | | | | you to compare the cost of medical insurance |
| can't qualify for group rates your health insurance | | | | from different insurance companies. Fill out the |
| premiums may be tax deductible and once your | | | | forms on all 3 websites exactly the same, so you |
| tax-break is figured into the equation you may | | | | are comparing the same policy on all 3 sites. |
| find that your health insurance is not so expensive | | | | Now your job is simple. All you need to do is to |
| after all. | | | | pick the company with the lowest price. This is |
| An HMO or a PPO may be part of the answer. | | | | the way to get affordable health insurance in |
| Health Maintenance Organizations are less | | | | South Carolina...you do your homework, you |
| expensive than individual health insurance but they | | | | compare prices and you pick the winner! |