The In's and Out's of Health Insurance

By Ed Hulse


Certainly one of the most debated issues of today is health insurance. Many people have seen premiums increase to the point where having coverage for them and their families has become more and more difficult. Given the fact that there is continued uncertainty as to the direction of medical coverage plans, many people are doing the best they can to operate within the current system in order to maximize coverage and control costs.

Healthy patients can generally save money on plans. Many carriers offer incentives or give lower premiums for people who maintain healthier lifestyles. Those that are able to keep cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels under control, for example, can often be rewarded with lower rates. Likewise, carriers will often construct policies that encourage regular preventative care visits.

In the same way, providers are more frequently promoting regular exercise and diet in their patients. And, this holds true for entire family. Those that visit the doctor more regularly and live a healthy lifestyle have been shown to have far fewer occurrences of chronic conditions later in life.

Many people, in an effort to trim costs, will change the type of coverage they have. They may, for instance, pay for a certain amount of annual medical costs. Once they reach a certain accumulated amount paid, the insurance will activate and pay for further medical needs for that calendar year. The idea is to reduce monthly payments, but be protected in the event of a serious illness or medical need.

Many other families may choose to split plans among family members. Often, depending on where one lives and the level of income, children under the age of 18 may qualify for lower cost plans. Some parents may not be eligible, so they may choose slightly more expensive coverage tailored to their needs.

Most insurers will separate dental and medical coverage. But generally preventative care is the least costly solution. Many plans will be arranged in such a way so as to make regular checkups and cleanings relatively affordable. As with medical coverage, healthy dental habits are typically rewarded by minimizing the number of costly visits. This will allow lower payments per visit, regular check ups and great habits.

Though the future of health insurance still remains unclear, there are clearly ways to save right now. Incorporating healthy approaches into ones life can result in a substantial amount of expense reduction. Being proactive and working within the current system to find the best results for individual needs might be the best way to go for now.




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