1. There are drugs that are big brand names. You'll raise your health insurance rates if you use big brand name drugs. But are you aware that every generic drug has the same active agents as its big brand name counterpart? Where they can have any difference is in the inactive agents.

This simply implies that what you get from brand name drugs is also what you get from generic drugs of similar specification. But take the time to ask a doctor you can truly trust about this before you settle for any drug.

2. If you take part in high risk or dangerous sports you will attract expensive health insurance rates. Therefore quit any sport or activity that is either extreme or dangerous and you'll enjoy cheaper rates.

3. There are individuals who are not eligible for special health insurance for low-income earners and at the same time find it very difficult to pay for traditional health insurance. If you are among such individuals, you will benefit much by using a discount medical card.

A discount medical card makes you eligible to make use of a network of doctors who are contracted to provide card carriers medical services at a cheaper rate. This card is not managed by insurance companies.

It's also a great alternative for individuals who may have a pre-existing health condition that will make them uninsurable with most health insurance companies or make them pay very exorbitant health insurance rates. There are no exclusions for any reason. All you need do is pay a little monthly fee and you will benefit from the services of a network of health care providers at a lower rate.

4. You will get lower rates if you elect to pay your premiums yearly and not monthly. Yes, paying monthly might be convenient but it is also much more expensive.

There are transaction fees that are incurred when processing a check. For twelve checks (that is, your monthly payments) you will have a sum of twelve transactions. This implies that transaction fees would be twelve times more for people who make monthly payments.

That is one side of it: Insurers also incur certain administrative costs for your monthly payments. For example, it costs insurers millions of dollars annually to send out payment notices.

All such cost to an insurance provider is eventually paid by you (that's in addition to their own profit margin for giving you such a "stressless" alternative).

5. This should not be a problem for most individuals but we will still make mention of it...

Using banned drugs will raise your health insurance costs. And where the use of certain drugs is NOT illegal, abusing them will also make you pay much higher health insurance rates.

Avoid self-medication as well and you will certainly get cheaper rates than individuals who don't.

6. You can save much money in health insurance if you obtain and compare health insurance quotes from quotes sites. You will realize savings if you go to just one quotes site. However, you will get better results by visiting at least five. The plain reason for this is that you will obtain a greater number of health insurance quotes from many more insurance companies. This raises your chances of receiving better offers.