It is an old saying — “Health is Wealth.” The most important step to maintaining this wealth is to get a health insurance policy for you as well as your family. But, sometimes the premiums of such policies can leave you in and out of the budget situation. Can you really do something to bring down your premium? Read on to learn about the 5 quickest ways to lower your health insurance premium.
1. Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Living a healthy life has many benefits. Your healthy lifestyle can easily help you in bringing down the health insurance premium. Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, avoid smoking and heavy drinking — and your visits to the doctor will surely be minimized. The healthier you are, the lesser you are represented as a risk for the insurance company.
2. Shop for the best available price
One of the best options to keep your premium lowest is to go out and shop around for the health care policy. This will ensure that you find the best available policy that fits your budget. Do thorough research before investing in any policy. You can get information from your friends and relatives or even on the Internet.
3. Take up plans with higher deductibles
Insurance plans with higher deductibles tend to have lower premiums. Typically, the deductible is the amount you are expected to pay toward the hospital, doctor, and other medical bills. Taking up a plan with a higher deductible may not be a universally applicable idea. If you’re generally healthy and do not fall ill very frequently, then you can take up this plan. This way you can keep your premium at a lower rate and avail of basic health care facilities as well. But, if you have a history of some major consistent illness, avoid taking this plan.
4. Take up a policy early in your life
The premium varies to a great extent with the age of the person. Try and get a policy as early in your life as you can. For example, if you buy a policy at the age of 25, then you’ll have to pay a lesser premium but, if you go for the same policy at the age of 50 you’ll end up paying a raised premium amount.
5. Get in touch with independent insurance agents
You can take help from independent insurance agents. These agents represent several insurance agencies and can guide you to pick the right kind of health insurance policy and then plan your premiums at an affordable rate. Since independent agents will compete to get the business – so you’ll get serious offers quickly.