As the saying goes, take care of your body and it will take care of you. Aside from the health benefits and longevity of living a healthy lifestyle, you can also lower your health insurance premiums. After all, healthy people need less medication and trips to the doctor’s office, which means a reduction in what they have to pay for their healthcare plan.
Even if you have a preexisting health problem that puts you in a higher-paying bracket for people in your age category, you can still get the cost lowered substantially by improving your health. Having an existing physical malady does not doom you to paying higher than average premiums for the rest of your life.
Throw Those Cancer Sticks Away
According to statistics, as of 2012, 20 percent of Aussie men and 16 percent of Aussie women 18 years and over are smokers. If you regularly light up, then any time is a good time to quit. Now, it’s obvious that everyone who smokes are aware of the dangers; after all, the Surgeon General’s Warning is right on the side of the cigarette box and clearly outlines the dangers of smoking, which includes an increased risk of heart disease, lung cancer and emphysema.
Health Insurance companies are well aware that smokers are more likely to be in poor health and need more medical care, thus the reason they are allowed to set the insurance rate for smokers at a higher cap, sometimes as such as 50 percent than their non-smoking counterparts. Yes, quitting can be agonizingly difficult; however, by successfully kicking the habit, not only will your health significantly improve but you will also reduce the cost of your insurance.
Get Your Body Moving
In a study consisting of 4,000 Australian adult men and women, 27 percent were classified as obese according to their body mass index. Obesity greatly increases the risk of health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea.
It is common sense that exercise preserves your health and keeps those extra pounds around the midsection at bay. While getting into shape does require commitment, it is far simpler than one may think. It really doesn’t matter if you exercise at home or join a gym; just find a way to get your body moving every day. This may include weightlifting, yoga, Pilates or body calisthenics. Even walking constitutes as exercise and doing more of it helps you burn additional calories, maintain a healthy weight, strengthen your bones and aids in digestion.
Clean Out Your Fridge
There are consequences for not eating a clean diet. Eating healthy does not mean that you have to completely refrain from eating the foods you enjoy. Just use common sense and stick to the food pyramid or whatever dietary changes suggested by your doctor. Common foods that your body can do better without includes those with ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oil. You may also take supplements if there is a particular vitamin or nutrient your body is lacking in. Keep in mind, however, that supplements are in no way a substitute for making smart food choices.
Improve your Health, Improve Your Insurance Rate
When you get health insurance, an initial exam will be done by a doctor to determine your current state of health. This report will be used by your insurance in determining your premiums. Even if the medical report is less than favorable, there is no need to fret. By making a conscious decision to improve your health and making subsequent visits to your doctor, you can improve your physical condition and get your insurance lowered in the process.
