Changing Bad Habits to Help Lower Insurance Premiums
Whilst giving up cigarettes or high fat foods may not lower your insurance premiums overnight, the positive changes you make may eventually reduce your rates. Any beneficial changes that you make to your health, such as losing weight, increasing your exercise level or minimising your use of alcohol, can reduce your risk of conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, heart attack and stroke. Changing bad habits to positive ones can improve your overall well being, which will lower the cost of insuring your health.
Avoiding Tobacco and Alcohol
Lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking are among the key risk factors that insurers consider when they calculate your rates. Smoking, in particular, can increase the cost of health insurance because of the detrimental effects of smoking on your health. Giving up smoking may reduce your risk of lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and osteoporosis. In addition, you may have more energy and enjoy a wider range of leisure activities when you eliminate tobacco from your routines.
Along with increasing your risk of serious medical conditions, like heart disease and cancer, smoking makes you more susceptible to colds, bronchitis and allergic reactions. Nicotine, the active ingredient in cigarettes, is a stimulant that can interrupt normal sleep patterns, causing fatigue and poor concentration. Smoking heavily may interfere with your ability or desire to exercise, which in turn may have a harmful effect on your health.
Whilst alcohol can provide certain health benefits when taken in moderation, excessive alcohol use can put you at risk for injuries, weight gain, high blood pressure, stroke, liver damage and some forms of cancer. Drinking heavily can also lead to depression and may have a destructive effect on personal and professional relationships. Heavy drinkers are more likely to have minor or serious traffic accidents.
Avoiding or eliminating alcohol and tobacco may improve your health all round, resulting in fewer claims on your health insurance. The fewer claims you make, the lower your rates will be. Most importantly, you may enjoy a longer, more active and rewarding life if you replace harmful habits with beneficial ones, such as exercise, stress management techniques and healthy leisure activities.
Changing Diet and Exercise Patterns
By changing bad dietary habits, you may improve the health of your heart, lower your weight and minimise the risks associated with a high Body Mass Index, or BMI. Exercising for half an hour each day instead of watching TV or sitting at the computer will boost your fitness level. Maintaining a healthy weight may help you to avoid heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and some types of cancer. You'll also keep your health insurance rates low by keeping your BMI within a normal range.
Eating between meals, skipping meals, eating high fat foods and relying on sweets or crisps for comfort are among the most common bad eating habits. Eating regular, balanced meals that are high in complex carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, makes it easier to avoid high calorie snacks. Foods that are high in plant fibre fill you up and curb your appetite, whilst providing a steady supply of energy. Replace high calorie beverages with fresh water, non-fat milk or herbal tea with a dash of fruit juice.
Changing bad habits to help lower insurance premiums is only one of the benefits of cultivating a healthier lifestyle. As you enjoy lower health insurance costs, you may also benefit from higher energy, a lower BMI and reduced stress levels. Consult your doctor to develop a tailored programme to replace harmful habits with healthy ones.
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