| Being able to afford health insurance is a big problem | | | | and some pre-existing conditions that would drive the |
| for many people here in Alabama. In fact, the problem | | | | cost through the roof if you were purchasing an |
| has become so severe that close to 17% of all | | | | individual policy. If your place of employment does not |
| Alabama residents cannot afford health insurance of | | | | offer a group plan start asking around at any club, |
| any kind. Fortunately the state of Alabama has made | | | | organization or association you belong to. You may be |
| low-cost health insurance available to many people | | | | surprised to find that some group you never even |
| who might not otherwise be able to afford it. Children | | | | thought about offers its members group health |
| under the age of eighteen, college students, pregnant | | | | insurance. Ask your friends and co-workers if any of |
| women and others may be able to qualify for low-cost | | | | them belong to a group, club or association that offers |
| health insurance through one or more state-sponsored | | | | group health insurance - and then see if you can join. |
| programs. For those individuals who do not qualify for | | | | Ask if any religious organization you belong to offers |
| a state-sponsored program there are still several | | | | its members group health insurance. Look into joining |
| simple things you can do that may help to reduce the | | | | an HMO a PPO or some other form of health |
| cost of your monthly health insurance premium. And | | | | maintenance organization. If your favorite doctor is not |
| once you know what things you can do to lower the | | | | part of an HMO then you may have to switch doctors, |
| cost of your health insurance, then it will be time to get | | | | but often you can keep your same doctor if you join a |
| online and compare the cost of your premium-saving | | | | PPO. See if one of these types of groups makes |
| policy at every health insurance company that sells | | | | economic sense to you. If you own a home-based |
| policies in Alabama until you have found the very | | | | business it may be possible to qualify for group health |
| lowest cost possible for the insurance you need. Let's | | | | insurance even if your only employee is a spouse. Ask |
| start with some lifestyle changes. These are the most | | | | your insurance agent if this is possible in your case. But |
| difficult things for most people to do, even though they | | | | even if group health is not a possibility, it still may be |
| can potentially save the most on your health insurance. | | | | possible to deduct your health insurance payments |
| Don't smoke or use chew or any other tobacco | | | | from your taxes if you own your own business - and |
| product. You know in your heart of hearts that | | | | the tax savings could help offset the cost of your |
| tobacco products are not good for your health, and | | | | premiums to the point where health insurance is more |
| insurance companies know this too. That's why they | | | | affordable than you thought. What about your co-pay |
| charge tobacco users anywhere from 20% to 50% | | | | and your deductible? If you can increase your |
| more for their health insurance than they charge | | | | co-payment and/or your deductible you can lower the |
| non-smokers. Losing weight is even more difficult than | | | | cost of your health insurance. Obviously increasing |
| stopping smoking for most people, but if you are | | | | your co-pay and/or your deductible must be |
| overweight you are going to pay more for your health | | | | considered carefully as any increase in either |
| insurance. Again, this is simply a fact of life. The good | | | | represents cash that is coming out of your pocket. It's |
| news is that losing even a small amount of weight can | | | | finally time for you to take the tips and tricks you |
| potentially drop you down on the insurance company's | | | | picked up from this article and use them when filling out |
| weight chart and can potentially save you hundreds of | | | | the form on at least 3 of the websites which allow |
| dollars each and every year in premium payments. | | | | you to compare health insurance prices among the |
| Every little bit can potentially help. Are your weekends | | | | different insurance companies. Make sure that you fill |
| filled with extreme or dangerous sports or hobbies? | | | | out the form exactly the same way on all three of the |
| As fun and exciting as they may be, the fact is you | | | | comparison websites you've chosen and then simply |
| are going to pay more for health insurance if you put | | | | pick the company with the lowest cost (being careful |
| your life and health at risk unnecessarily. The same | | | | to choose a company that you feel confident will still |
| goes for driving a fancy sports car. And were you | | | | be around when you need them), and your job is done! |
| aware that your credit rating can also affect how | | | | You have now compared low cost health insurance in |
| much you pay for your health insurance? As strange | | | | Alabama, you've picked the lowest-priced company |
| as it may seem, the better your credit score the lower | | | | and you can feel good about the fact that you are |
| your health insurance premium. Group health insurance | | | | getting the coverage you need at a price you can |
| is always less expensive than individual health care, | | | | afford. |
| plus group plans will often overlook smoking, weight | | | | |