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