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Saturday, May 16, 2009

Health Insurance: Proven Tips For Big Savings

By Chimezirim Odimba

A report proves that not up to 2 out of every ten Americans have health insurance coverage of any class. This is what the American Census Bureau reports. And this could have been worse knowing that it was group health plans that have made health insurance cheap enough for the majority of people who have it.

This is a serious issue as this suggests that many Americans would not have health on account of the withdrawal of group health insurance by many people. This is partly due to the rising cost of health care.

So, if most people who are still enjoying group health plans are to continiously have health insurance, then they would have to buy individual health insurance plans. And because it will really cost so much to buy individual health insurance, steps to savings on health insurance would be seriously appreciated.. Let's see time-tested ways you can lower your individual health insurance costs.

1. Stop smoking if you desire inexpensive health insurance. It is a sure fact that smokers are susceptible to various health conditions and that they also die young.

If smoking results to specific health problems, then it makes a person a high risk and that attracts higher rates. It's up to you to abstain from smoking and then apply again after twelve months if your desire is to see your rates brought low by 50%.

2. Lose weight and your premium will be lower. Your BMI or Body Mass Index is a very serious factor in calculating your risk to a health insurance carrier.

A high BMI will always result in a high premium all other things being equal. If your Body Mass Index rating is high it simply means that your weight is too much for your height. Do your best to shed excess weight since losing even a few pounds could give you another Body Mass Index rating and result in lower rates.

3. Using tobacco in any form will increase your rates. For example, you'll pay a higher rate if you chew or snuff tobacco.

Therefore, you will help yourself attract lower rates if you stay away from tobacco use in any form.

4. Paying your premium once a year will attract lower rates than opting for monthly payments. The ads may show that paying monthly is easy but what you're not told is how much more you pay for this.

Every check that is processed attracts a charge. While a yearly payment attracts just one check and therefore one transaction every year, monthly payments attract twelve. You will then have to pay the sum of twelve transaction fees.

Besides, there are also administrative costs that come with the monthly payment option. A clear example of such is the expense associated with mailing payment notices.

The additional administrative cost to an insurer is ultimately paid by you (that's in addition to their own markup for giving you such a "stressless" alternative).

5. If you participate in high risk or extreme sports you'll attract high rates. Therefore quit any sport or leisure activity that's either life-threatening or dangerous and you'll attract lower rates.

6. If you drive irresponsibly then be prepared to pay expensive health insurance rates. Rough driving charges and other traffic violations can effectively add to your health insurance premium. This is because you will make yourself a greater risk to your insurer.

Improving your driving history and developing a good driving culture will lower your premium. Extra powerful automobiles like fast muscle cars and super bikes will make you pay a more expensive health insurance premium. The higher probability of a crash means you could be injured and have to make a claim.

7. You'll get higher premiums simply because your occupation exposes you to much hazards. Changing over to a non-hazardous vocation will reduce your premium by a considerable margin. If your work exposes you to dangerous substances, for instance, your premiums will be much more than that given to a similar profile who probably works as a receptionist in an office.

8. What you're willing to contribute to payments for each visit to the doctor affects your premium. Such an amount which you contribute is called your co-pay. Your premium will be lower if you opt for a higher co-pay. This is highly recommended for individuals who rarely need to see a doctor.

9. Group plans are more affordable than individual plans. Therefore for individuals who have the opportunity of using a group plan, it presents the opportunity to pay far less than otherwise.. This statement is even more so if you're obese, a smoker or older.

A group plan will save you a lot if you have a health condition that makes individual health insurance either too costly or almost impossible to come by. Therefore, using a group plan is a good to get the right coverage cheap.

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