The process of how insurance companies come up with their rates for individual health insurance coverage can seem quite opaque. When you compare quotes for equivalent levels of coverage offered to the same individual by competing insurance companies, the quoted rate offered by one private insurance company can be literally twice the rate quoted by another. Given this state of affairs, it seems difficult to imagine that very much rhyme or reason goes into setting the prices of individual health insurance coverage.

However, there is a lot of careful statistical calculation and evaluation that goes into every health insurance quote. A wide variety of factors are assessed by companies during the process of determining a rate, and some of these factors are well within your control. With a bit of research, a few months of planning, and a willingness to change your lifestyle for the better, you can probably get quoted a much lower health insurance rate than you are paying right now. There is no instant trick that will save you money, but if you are able and willing to start living a healthier lifestyle, you can end up saving several thousands of dollars over the course of your lifetime.

The primary lifestyle choice that can send your insurance rates through the roof is smoking. Many insurance providers quote smokers much higher rates than non-smokers, and with good reason. Smokers are very likely to need care for a health condition related to their habit, as smoking makes you vulnerable to a wide range of ailments including emphysema, several kinds of cancer, and heart problems. Because of this fact, non smokers are less likely to make insurance claims than their smoking counterparts, which makes them more profitable for companies to insure. By giving up tobacco if you are currently a smoker, you can save yourself quite a bit of cash every month.

Of course, there are smaller steps you can take towards making yourself a more attractive customer in the eyes of any health insurance provider. To start with, make sure you are at your fittest when you go in for the standard check-up that companies will base your rates on. Get a good night’s sleep, and then schedule your appointment for first thing in the morning when you are feeling most energetic and will have the quickest response times and sharpest reflexes. By presenting yourself at your healthiest, you are doing your part to make sure you get the lowest possible insurance quote.