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17 percent of the American population does not have any form of health insurance. This report can be relieable because it comes from the U.S Census Bureau. Moreover, a many of people who have any form of coverage do pay for it only because of group health plans.

This, unfortunately, may soon be a thing of the past as many business owners might soon start withdrawing group health insurance from their employment packages since they are becoming quite tasking on their businesses. Health care cost is rising and not many of them can really remain profitable with such additional financial strain.

The only way left for the majority who would like to have a health insurance coverage is to get individual health insurance. The necessity, therefore, of knowing ways to get lower health insurance rates cannot be overemphasized. let us see distinct steps to lower your individual health insurance rate.

1. Smokers get rates that are twice or more that of non-smokers. It's no longer a hidden fact that smoking is the topmost cause of cancer and other terminal diseases.

If smoking leads to specific health conditions, then it makes a person a high risk and that calls for higher rates. Once you stop smoking for about twelve months tell your present insurer or reapply to some other insurer and you'll experience a dramatic reduction in your premium.

2. Lose weight and your rates will be lower. There's something known as Body Mass Index (BMI) which is used to calculate a prospect's premium.

If your Body Mass Index rating is high, your rates will be expensive. The more extra weight you have for your height and sex the higher your Body Mass Index rating will be. Do your best to shed excess weight because losing even a few pounds could give you another BMI rating which means more affordable rates.

3. Notwithstanding the fact that many individuals are aware that smoking increases their rates, they may not know that the same is also true if they use other tobacco products. Chewing or snuffing tobacco, for example will cost you in higher premium.

So, you will help yourself get lower rates if you avoid tobacco use in any form.

4. Paying your premium annually will attract cheaper rates than choosing monthly payments. Yes, monthly payments might be stressless but it's also much more expensive.

Each check that is processed attracts a fee. For 12 payments (that is, your monthly premiums) you will have a sum of 12 transactions. This implies that transaction charges would be twelve times more for those who pay monthly.

That's one side of it: Insurers also incur certain administrative costs for your monthly payments. For instance, it costs insurers millions of dollars every year to send out payment notices.

These and more are then included in your premium thus making it more than if you paid every year.

5. Extreme sports get you higher rates. Therefore stay off any sport or activity that's either extreme or risky and you'll attract lower rates.

6. If you drive recklessly then be prepared to pay higher health insurance rates. Speeding tickets and other traffic offences can effectively add to your health insurance premium. The simple reason is that if you are such a driver, you will more probably require medical attention for injuries than a very cautious driver.

Improving your driving history and developing a good driving habit will lower your premium. If you drive a fast muscle car or power bike, you will likely pay much more in health insurance. The higher likelihood of a crash means you could be wounded and need to make a claim.

7. Folks whose lines of duty expose to hazards pay more expensive premiums. You'll pay lower premiums if you quit a hazardous occupation for a non-hazardous one. A person who works in a nuclear plant can't expect similar rates with a clerk in the local bookshop.

8. What amount are you willing to pay out of your pocket each time you visit the doctor? This is what is known as your co-pay for those who don't know already. The higher your co-pay, the more affordable your premium will be. If you hardly ever have to see a doctor, you will save a lot by selecting a high co-pay.

9. You'll get cheaper rates for a group plan than otherwise. Therefore for those who have the privilege of using a group plan, it offers you the the avenue of paying far less than otherwise.. The higher the risk insurers attach to your profile the more you'll save if you can use a group plan.

This is also true of individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions that get very expensive premiums. Give a group plan serious thought if you are after cheaper rates.