Recent United States Census Bureau figures show that approximately 85% of Americans have health assurance and that roughly 60% have employment related health assurance or as individuals and that various government agencies provide health assurance to 25% of Americans.
Because medical technology and treatment are advancing at a daily rate the costs associated with health assurance are also rapidly increasing. People in developed countries are living longer which means the population of those countries is aging and a larger group of senior citizens requires more medical care than a younger healthier population. (A similar rise in costs is evident in Social Security in the United States.) These factors cause an increase in the price of health assurance.
There are however other factors that are resulting in an increase of health assurance prices and these are health related for example, obesity and insufficient exercise, unhealthy food, a shortage of doctors in impoverished or rural areas; excessive alcohol use, smoking and drug abuse plus the sedentary lifestyle of many.
In theory, people could lower health assurance prices by doing the opposite of the above; that is, by exercising, eating healthy food, avoiding addictive substances, etc. Healthier lifestyles protect the body from disease, and with fewer diseases, the health assurance companies would therefore pay fewer medical bills.
Before buying health assurance, a person typically fills out a comprehensive medical history form that asks whether the person smokes, how much the person weighs, and has the person ever been treated for any of a long list of diseases. Applicants can get discounts if they don't smoke and live a healthy lifestyle, which might encourage some people to quit smoking or make other improvements in their lifestyle. The medical history is also used to screen out persons with pre-existing medical conditions.
This article has been written by http://www.health-insurer.info
For more information on health assurance, visit our web site http://www.health-insurer.info
This article is not a substitute for professional advice.
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