Unfortunately, most people don't get life insurance until they're older or until they've developed a medical condition. Only then do they realize it's time to start thinking about protecting their families. But that's also when it's practically impossible to find cheap life insurance.

Will your insurance company agree?

Think your high cholesterol isn't much of a problem? Well your insurance company doesn't share that opinion. In fact, if a medical examination reveals this condition, you'll more than likely be put into a higher risk category. Once that happens, you can forget about being offered cheap life insurance, regardless of any other factor.

What about your high blood pressure? You think all you've got to do is take a vacation and it'll be back to normal, but the life insurance company sees the situation differently. It sees high blood pressure as a precursor to more significant health problems; maybe not next month or even next year but very likely during your coverage period.

The same goes for your weight. What you consider ?a few love handles around the middle? may be considered ?obese? by the insurance company.

Smoking is another red flag when it comes to shopping for cheap health insurance. If you regularly use tobacco products, forget about getting a break on your life insurance premium. In fact, expect it to cost anywhere from 25 to 50% more. Smoking definitely comes at a price because it can cause so many health problems. Besides making you pay more, insurance companies don't really have any other options.

Show you are willing to make an effort

Insurance companies understand that medical conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, using tobacco products, and being overweight can be controlled and that doing so can lead to a significant improvement in your health.

So there actually is some truth in believing a vacation could help lower your blood pressure. And although you may not have been quoted what you consider a cheap life insurance premium, you're not completely out of luck.

Insurance companies have softened a bit. Rather than permanently locking you into a high risk category for conditions such as those listed above, the company may be willing to improve your rates if you prove you're willing to improve your health. Most agents won't come right out and offer this, but if you ask for suggestions on ways to lower your costs, make sure you listen to the answers.

If you can show you're working towards consistently improving your health, your insurance company may be able to offer cheaper life insurance premiums. You'll be required to show documentation of the improvements, and possibly undergo an independent medical review by the life insurance company, but it will be worth the effort.