It can be expensive to maintain an adequate amount of health care coverage for an individual or family. With health care costs on the rise, it seems there is no prospect of lower premiums. There are, however, three ways to lower monthly health insurance premiums. Keep these methods in mind when requesting a health insurance quote.

Deductibles and co-pays are the amounts of money that you are expected to pay toward medical expenses before the insurance company begins to pay. The lower these amounts are, the higher the premium will be. The deductible is usually based on a calendar year. If the deductible is $300 for an individual, the person must pay the first $300 of covered medical expenses within that year before the insurance company is required to begin contributing. Generally, deductible amounts are not carried over from year to year. They renew each year. Raising the deductible will reduce the premium amount. If you bank the deductible amount, it will draw interest. That makes a higher deductible more attractive. The standard co-pay is 20 percent, meaning that you will pay 20 percent of all medical expenses after the deductible. Raising the co-pay above 20 percent can reduce the premium, but it incurs a risk in the case of a large medical bill.

Healthy people are low risks for insurance companies, so they pay lower premiums. Smoking is a harmful habit that puts you at risk for more than just lung cancer. Smokers are more susceptible to upper respiratory illnesses and disease such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking debilitates the immune system causing smokers to come down with colds and viruses more easily. Obesity also has many health-related illnesses and diseases. Health insurance companies look favorably on physically fit, non-smokers who are the correct weight for their height and bone structure. Giving up smoking and shedding those last few pounds can pay dividends on the next health insurance quote.

Shopping around among agents is a good way to compare coverage and premium costs. An agent can explain different coverage options and give input on what is the best health insurance plan. Some agents represent more than one insurance provider. Comparisons should be done on more than just cost, though. There is little gain if money is saved on an inexpensive policy that provides inadequate coverage.

Individuals interested in reducing their premiums should first approach their current health insurance provider. Asking for a new health insurance quote that factors in some of the changes mentioned may be all that is needed to place you into a different category. If the result is not satisfactory, shop around. There are many insurance companies waiting to compete for the business.