1. How much are you willing to pay out of your pocket each time you see the doctor? This is what is known as your co-pay for those who don't know already. Your health insurance premium will be lower if you choose a higher co-pay. This is particularly recommended for individuals who rarely go to see a doctor.

2. People whose lines of duty expose to hazards get more expensive health insurance rates. Switching to a less-hazardous vocation will bring down your health insurance rate by a remarkable margin. If your work exposes you to dangerous substances, for instance, your health insurance premiums will be much more than that given to a comparable profile who probably works as a receptionist in an office.

3. Staying loyal to one insurance company for any considerable length of time will surely get you savings. A number of insurance providers will give you discounts of around five percent once you stick to them for over three years while others will give you discounts for staying up to 5 years. Staying longer will attract more discounts. However, you may save more if you switch.

Assuming your health insurance premium is $2,500 and you are given a five percent discount when you stay for up to five years you will pay $2,500 - (5% of $2,500 or $125) = $2,375.

If this is correct about you then you know it is ideal for you to go for the more affordable offer immediately and not wait for years to become entitled to a discount that won't even save you as much.

You'll most likely get lower rates if you take the time to shop right since there are hundreds of health insurance companies around.

4. Smokers attract health insurance rates that are double or more that of persons who do not smoke. Smokers are more liable to die young and are also more likely to suffer many deadly diseases.

This multiplies their risk to an insurer and so increases their rates considerably. Once you stop smoking for about 12 months inform your present insurer or reapply to some other insurer and you'll see a dramatic drop in your health insurance premium.

5. Overweight people pay far higher health insurance rates than individuals with normal weights. An insured's Body Mass Index (BMI) is an important factor that affects what you pay as health insurance rate.

If your Body Mass Index rating is high, your rates will be expensive. Your weight is too much for your height and sex if your Body Mass Index is high. And don't think that you'll get savings only when you lose 50 pounds, just losing a few pounds will get you lower rates provided it alters your BMI rating.

6. If you need a discount, buy your health insurance policy from the same insurer you bought existing policies from. It is called a multi-policy discount.

Although you can save a lot with a multi-policy discount, you may get a better deal by buying your various policies from various insurance companies.

7. Get and compare many health insurance quotes. Visit a minimum of three quotes sites.

Requesting quotes from a minimum of three quotes sites raise the chances that you'd obtain more quotes. This provides you a broader basis for doing more thorough comparisons thus increasing your chances of realizing more savings.