Unless you have free healthcare, you know how much health insurance can end up costing you. Aside from the monthly, weekly or per paycheck amount, there are still more costs to having health insurance.

Additional health insurance costs can vary dramatically. Whether you might have the wonderful fees, such as a flat co-payment when going in for medical care and that’s all you have to worry about. Or, you might have the health insurance where you pay everything upfront and get a percentage back from your insurance company.

Don’t even get me started on the deductibles and maximum lifetime coverage amounts. Oh my.

If you want to get your health insurance premiums and out of pocket expenses low, there are a couple of things you might want to start including in your day to day life.

Regular Exercise

We all know that getting regular exercise is good for us, whether or not we want to do it. Taking care of your body and your heart can save you a lot of money in the long run. Not to mention possible increasing your lifespan.

On average, it is suggested that you get about 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week of cardiovascular exercise (walking, jogging, running, swimming, etc.) to keep your heart and body healthy. But that can sound overwhelming to somebody who doesn’t exercise at all. Don’t be afraid to start out small and work your way up; 10 or 15 minutes a day of exercise is significantly better than none at all.

Balanced Diet

Not eating a well balanced diet can lead to many health conditions down the road. Taking the time and effort now could help you avoid various conditions later on, such as: diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity and more. Variety and moderation and sometimes all you need to get things back on track. Plus, food is meant to be fuel for our bodies, not entertainment and comfort.

Oral Care

Taking care of your teeth and gums is usually something people don’t think about when attempting to improve their health. If you have infections and bacteria hanging out in your mouth all of the time, how can you not fathom that it will get to the rest of your body. You swallow right? Brushing your teeth is generally recommended after every meal. Flossing can be done a couple of times each day as well. Going in for regular checkups with your dentist can keep oral issues from getting worse and keep your teeth cleaner.

Ditching Bad Habits

I’m sure there are plenty of other bad habits that affect your health, but I’m focusing of the 3 that first come to mind. Tobacco, alcohol and drugs. If you are addicted to any of these, then I’m sure you have heard how bad they are for your health. If you’re serious about improving your health and keeping your health insurance spending low, then you really need to consider ditching these bad habits.

These are just a few ways to pay lower health insurance premiums and keep yourself from paying unnecessary fees for medical care. Do your own research, talk with your doctor or insurance companies about what you specifically can do to lower your medical costs now and later down the road. There are also very many options for health insurance plans, if you’re in the market, I highly suggest taking a look at HBF’s health hub. HBF has a variety of health insurance plans, so that you can customize your coverage.