Your health insurance policy has premiums based on how the insurer expects its future outlays will be. Cost estimation is an important part of determining those premiums, and part of that process involves considering how often something happens that requires an insurance company payout. Policyholders can help keep premiums at a minimum by dropping some unhealthy behavior that can have a decided impact on health insurance costs.

Cost estimation for health insurance premiums is controlled by an insurance company's underwriters. They are well-versed in estimating expected costs and establish health insurance premiums based on their calculation of those costs, which takes into consideration items such as chronic medical conditions, demographics like age, gender and locale, and health care inflation.

Health insurance policy premiums can be somewhat affected if the insured, and his family, avoid engaging in behavior that has been proven to be inimical to good health. Smoking, excessive drinking, obesity, risky jobs, even driving history can be taken into account when underwriters set the rates for a health insurance policyholder. You can help keep the lid on health insurance premiums by stopping or never engaging in potentially harmful conduct. But there are some offsetting items that might figure into the situation.

The health insurance underwriters expect individuals with risky lifestyles will not be around as long as those people who practice healthy living. They anticipate that there might be reason to expect fewer payouts for people indulging in risky behavior, and that could have an impact on premiums. Similar estimations of health insurance plans offered by employers are made by insurance companies, although the larger number of clients paying into a business's health insurance package can bring individual costs down.

There are some life changing situations that affect health insurance premiums. Deciding to get married and have children certainly figures into anyone's future health insurance costs. Insurance companies rely on historical information regarding how children can be affected by things like diseases or developmental problems that require professional help. Their cost estimates for new families seeking health insurance will be based on how a prospective client shapes up against the historical data.

Those looking to keep good health insurance rates at lower levels need to get quotes from at least three insurance companies - more is better if you have the time - the Internet is a big help here as well. Compare not only the cost involved, but also scrutinize what a particular insurer's offered policy does for you and your family. Sometimes it makes sense to go with a company that has slightly higher premiums in order to assure you are well covered.