As you probably know all to well, the cost of healthcare and health insurance premiums continue to increase at levels substantially above the general inflation rate. The reasons given for these extraordinary cost increases are numerous and include: technological advancements in the medical field, increased demand for medical services and prescription drugs, the aging of the population, cost shifting caused by the uninsured and governmental reimbursement rates, state and federal mandates, and costs associated with medical related lawsuits.
As individual consumers, we have very little control over some of the factors contributing to the cost of healthcare. However, all of us have control over lifestyle related health insurance claims. A simple formula of eating a balanced diet, getting the appropriate amount of daily exercise, participating in annual physicals and other recommended routine care, limiting alcohol consumption, and eliminating the use of tobacco products will no doubt reduce our personal healthcare costs. In addition to reducing medical costs, the other benefits of following such a formula include more energy, self confidence, less stress, and increased productivity. If you are not doing so already, I encourage you to consider practical ways to promote a healthy lifestyle for you and your family. For example, one of the individual health insurance companies my organization works with has an option that will offset 25% of the annual cost of a health club membership. Simple things such as taking a walk, bike ride, or going swimming promote both a healthy body and mind. If you have a sweet tooth, consider limiting yourself to eating desert once a week. You will enjoy it more and your body will thank you.
Health insurance premiums will continue to increase as long as the cost of healthcare continues to go up. The best way to reduce the overall cost of healthcare is to decrease our need for healthcare. Healthy lifestyle choices and prudent use of the healthcare system are the best and easiest ways to get a handle on our healthcare expenditures. Perhaps the greatest benefit of a healthy lifestyle is our ability to enjoy our precious time here on earth to the fullest.
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3 comments:
Some great information, but you forgot something very important. Use an independent agent who specializes in health insurance. There are close to 30,000 licensed agents in Ohio alone but only 1000 that are members of the National Association of Health Underwriters.(www.nahu.org) NAHU has state chapters and regional chapters of professionals who commit the majority of their time working the health insurance market.
The role of the agent is to know the market, evaluate the individual need of each customer and then assist that customer in securing coverage. The "independent" agent works for the customer and is only compensated when coverage is secured. There is NO ADDED COST to use an agent versus contacting all the carriers and doing all the work alone.
Here is a good place to look for Affordable Health Insurance.
Agreed. Lifestyle choices do affect health care and health insurance costs. The other reasons that are stated are equally important and lead to increase in the insurance cost. I do try to work on the factors that we can control to make the rates go down. Thanks for discussing about all the factors that count towards the health insurance cost.
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