A healthy individual pays less for health insurance than a person in ill health does. It is the same premise that rewards a careful driver with a clean record and penalizes a reckless driver with a poor driving record. It is sensible that an insurance company will charge a higher premium when it is taking a higher risk. There is something that the average person can do to improve or maintain good health and thereby qualify for more favorable health insurance plans. The simple though oftentimes avoided solution is regular exercise. There are numerous ways that exercise promotes and maintains good health.

Chronic Disease

Properly managed, regular exercise does much to combat chronic disease. For years it has been prescribed by doctors as good for certain heart conditions. There is no need to wait until disease strikes to begin a sound exercise program. Incorporating a routine program will also prevent heart disease. Other chronic conditions will also benefit from a daily work out. Exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure. Some types of high blood pressure can be managed with diet and exercise alone. High cholesterol can equal higher insurance premiums. Proper diet and an exercise routine can reduce the bad cholesterol while increasing the good cholesterol.

Control Weight

Obesity has been linked to serious diseases. Type II Diabetes has a connection to being overweight. Obesity reduces the body's ability to regulate blood sugar and the risk of developing diabetes increases. Too much body fat increases the bad cholesterol, which has a negative impact on the heart. As body weight increases, blood pressure does also, so overweight people are at higher risk for developing hypertension. Hypertension in turn increases the likelihood of kidney failure, stroke and heart attack. Poly-cystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disease that is linked to being overweight. It causes infertility in women and can also result in developing diabetes. It is easier to lose weight than it is to cure the diseases caused by obesity. Dieting alone is not an effective way to manage weight. It must be combined with regular exercise to lose weight, improve muscle tone and cardiovascular function.

The negative consequence of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle is ill health and chronic disease. Sitting in front of computer screens, video games and television sets reduces the amount of exercise that a normal body requires to maintain good health. It is astounding how many diseases are caused by obesity. Regular exercise not only reduces excess body fat it also reduces things like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Being in good health and not receiving care for chronic health conditions opens up better options for health insurance plans.