| For many families, finding affordable health | | | | for affordable health care has also prompted |
| insurance is a task akin to the search for | | | | health insurance companies and HMOs to help |
| the Holy Grail. Depending on where in the | | | | fun research and health initiatives all over |
| country you live, a family health insurance | | | | the country. The health insurance industry |
| plan can cost as much as $800-$1000 per | | | | underwrites millions of dollars of medical |
| month. Even when you split that cost between | | | | research annually in an effort to lower the |
| employee and employer, that's a major chunk | | | | costs of health care. Their dollars fund |
| of nearly anyone's monthly budget. And while | | | | grants to enroll low income and other hard to |
| it's popular to swear under your breath at | | | | insure populations, and to offer eye, dental |
| the greed of the health insurance industry, a | | | | and health care to inner city and poor rural |
| look at the cost of medical care is an | | | | populations. The industry estimates that |
| eye-opening shock for many people. The | | | | routine preventive eye and dental care, as |
| expenses associated with a broken arm, for | | | | well as routine medical screenings and |
| instance, can easily mount into several | | | | physicals can identify illnesses at early |
| thousands of dollars.The Health Insurance | | | | stages and prevent conditions and costs from |
| Industry has a stake in keeping people | | | | escalating out of reach. Get the Most from |
| healthy.The high cost of health insurance is | | | | Your Health InsuranceYou pay for it - you |
| the direct result of the high cost of medical | | | | should certainly get the most possible |
| care. It's a simple matter of economics. The | | | | benefit from your health insurance plan. Here |
| more it costs to take care of each | | | | are some suggestions for ways that you can |
| subscriber, the more the insurance companies | | | | make your health insurance plan work for you: |
| have to charge all their subscribers. This | | | | |
| cost/expense ratio is what has made most | | | | Join a gym.Check the benefits that your HMO |
| health insurance companies embrace the idea | | | | or health insurance plan offers. Chances are |
| of providing preventive care to their | | | | good that one of them is a discount good on |
| subscribers. It's a simple matter of business | | | | membership at a local gym or health club. Get |
| sense - healthy people don't cost the | | | | fit - it saves THEM money... but it saves |
| insurance companies a lot of money.Accidents | | | | YOUR life.Lose weight.Take advantage of |
| may be the first type of medical need that | | | | nutritional counseling and memberships in |
| springs to mind when people consider buying | | | | weight loss support groups to get down to |
| health insurance, the major insurance | | | | your ideal weight. Added bonus? Many health |
| companies all agree that accidents aren't the | | | | insurance plans offer a lower tier cost for |
| major cost drain on medical resources. That | | | | subscribers who are at healthy weights.Quit |
| place is reserved for chronic illnesses like | | | | smoking.Non-smokers are another group that |
| diabetes, heart disease, cancer and high | | | | often enjoy lower health insurance premiums. |
| blood pressure. Because of this, it makes | | | | Many HMOs and health insurance providers |
| good business sense for health insurance | | | | offer free smoking cessation programs to help |
| companies to encourage their subscribers to | | | | you get smoke free and healthy.Attend medical |
| adopt preventive health strategies. That pays | | | | screenings and health fairs.Many health |
| off in special benefits for health conscious | | | | insurance providers sponsor 'wellness fairs' |
| consumers. Preventive Health Benefits Help | | | | where you can have your blood pressure |
| Keep Costs LowAmong the benefits that have | | | | tested, get free medical screenings and learn |
| become commonplace for major health insurance | | | | about alternative medical techniques like |
| providers are routine physicals, medical | | | | massage therapy, acupuncture and yoga. Take |
| screenings for all subscribers, discounts on | | | | advantage of special events to learn more and |
| health club and gym memberships, payment of | | | | get healthy. |
| dues for weight loss groups and lowered | | | | |
| subscription fees for non-smokers.Some health | | | | It may be popular to demonize the health |
| insurance companies and HMO's go even further | | | | insurance industry, but today more than ever, |
| in their preventive efforts. Because of the | | | | the health insurance industry has a stake in |
| high risk of serious injury or fatality for | | | | keeping you healthy. Find out what your |
| infants in automobile accidents, Fallon | | | | health insurance company has to offer you by |
| Community Health Plan of Massachusetts has | | | | visiting their web site, or calling customer |
| for years teamed with local organizations to | | | | service.Deb Powers is a freelance writer |
| provide free infant car seats to families | | | | working with a provider of writing services |
| with newborns. In the same spirit of | | | | for all your writing needs. Whether you need |
| prevention, many HMOs offer free stress | | | | keyword optimized content, newsletter |
| management and stress reduction workshops to | | | | articles, article submission services or |
| all subscribers because stress has been | | | | well-researched information on any topic, |
| identified as a leading risk factor in nearly | | | | FreelanceRite can fill the bill for you. |
| every major illness. Seeking a CureThe quest | | | | |