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