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