A big problem for a lot of people in Alabama is being able to pay for health insurance. In fact, the problem has gotten so bad that about 17% of all people living in Alabama can't afford any kind of health insurance.
Many people in Alabama who might not have been able to afford health insurance otherwise are now able to get it at a low cost thanks to the state. Children under 18, college students, women who are pregnant, and others may be able to get health insurance at a low cost through one or more state-run programmes.
Even if you don't qualify for a state-run programme, there are still a few simple things you can do that might help lower your monthly health insurance premium. And once you know what you can do to lower the cost of your health insurance, it's time to go online and compare the cost of your premium-saving policy at every Alabama health insurance company that sells policies until you find the very best price for the insurance you need.
Let's start by making some changes to how we live. Most people find it hard to do these things, even though they can save you the most money on your health insurance.
Don't smoke, chew, or use any other kind of tobacco. You know deep down that smoking is bad for your health, and insurance companies know the same thing. Because of this, people who smoke pay anywhere from 20% to 50% more for their health insurance than people who don't smoke.
Most people find it harder to lose weight than to quit smoking, but if you are overweight, you will pay more for your health insurance. Again, this is just how things are. The good news is that even if you only lose a little bit of weight, you might move down on the insurance company's weight chart, which could save you hundreds of dollars a year in premiums. Every little bit might make a difference.
Do you do crazy or dangerous sports or hobbies on the weekends? Even if they are fun and exciting, you will pay more for health insurance if you put your life and health in danger for no reason. Driving a fancy sports car is the same way.
Did you also know that your credit score can affect how much you pay for health insurance? Even though it might seem strange, the higher your credit score, the lower your health insurance premium will be.
Group health insurance is always cheaper than individual health care, and many group plans don't charge extra for things like smoking, being overweight, or having certain pre-existing conditions that would send the price through the roof if you bought a policy on your own. If your workplace doesn't have a group plan, ask around at any clubs, groups, or organisations you belong to. You might be surprised to learn that a group you never even thought of has group health insurance for its members. Ask your friends and coworkers if they belong to a group, club, or association that offers group health insurance, and then see if you can join. Ask if the religious group you belong to has group health insurance for its members.
Think about joining an HMO, PPO, or another type of health maintenance organisation. If your favourite doctor is not part of an HMO, you may have to find a new one. However, if you join a PPO, you can often keep the same doctor. Check to see if one of these types of groups makes sense from a financial standpoint.
Even if your spouse is the only person who works for your home-based business, you may be able to get group health insurance. Ask your insurance agent if you can do this in your situation. But if you don't have access to group health insurance, you may still be able to deduct your health insurance payments from your taxes if you own your own business. The money you save on taxes could help cover the cost of your premiums, making health insurance more affordable than you thought.
What about your co-payment and your deductible? If you can raise your co-payment or deductible, you can lower the cost of your health insurance. Increasing your co-pay and/or deductible is something you should think about carefully, since any increase in either will cost you money.
Now it's time to put the tips and tricks you've learned in this article to use by filling out the form on at least three websites that let you compare the prices of different health insurance plans.
Make sure you fill out the form the same way on each of the three comparison sites you've chosen. Then, just choose the company with the lowest price, being careful to choose one you're sure will still be in business when you need them.
Now that you've looked at low cost health insurance in Alabama and picked the cheapest company, you can feel good about getting the coverage you need at a price you can afford.
