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