What Can I Do To Get Inexpensive Health Insurance?
The first thought you may have when you start exploring inexpensive health insurance is where can I find good coverage at a low cost. This however, is not the fist place to start. The first place to start is within your realm of control. You should begin by asking “what can I do?” I remember when I was in the information technology industry and we were looking at how to back up our data. The vendor we were talking with asked what was the easiest way to keep the back up copies small. The answer was “back up less data” Much in the same way when you ask the question “how do I get cost effective health insurance?” the answer starts with “stay healthy” The healthier you are the easier it will be for you to get good health insurance coverage with minimal cost. Here are some low cost ways to start down a healthy path.
1. Exercise – I know we have all heard this before, but the health benefits of exercising are well documented. Just working out for 30 minutes 3 times a week will be enough to get your cardiovascular system on the right path. You don’t even need to join a gym. You can accomplish this just by getting out and walking or jogging.
2. Diet – The less excess weight you carry around with you, the lower your chance of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke will be. Try to eat 6 meals a day. Preferably smaller meals about every 2 to 4 hours apart. This will decrease your chance for blood sugar levels to spike and keep your body producing insulin at a normal level which will in turn assist in guarding against diabetes. It will also increase your metabolism so you will burn more excess fat than eating 3 times a day.
3. Tobacco products – If this is an issue for you (if you use them at all) then find a way to quit. There are many good programs out there to assist you in stopping. Every thing from nicotine gum to nicotine patches to doctor assistance. Find one that will work for you and do it. Another added benefit is that you will save money when you are not purchasing tobacco products anymore. Many times the amount you save will be enough to pay for a good health insurance policy.
4. Alcohol – Cutting down on consumption of alcoholic beverages will increase liver function and also help with cutting down on excessive carbohydrate intake. Wine, notably red wine, has been linked to heart benefits over the year in several different studies. The key is not to drink in excess or the benefits will get washed away as your intoxication level rises.
5. Doctors – Many of us hate to go to the doctors office unless we “HAVE” to. However, getting regular checkups will help you make sure an illness doesn’t get out of hand and turn into a tragedy later on in life. Many serious health conditions are treatable if they are detected early (prostate cancer, skin cancer, hypertension, high blood pressure, and many others). Regular checkups will help you to qualify for good health insurance policies.
If you follow the 5 steps above it will start you on a path to find the most cost effective health insurance available whether it is private health insurance or with a group plan. Ignoring them will not only cost you money in the long run, but it could cost you much, much more.