Probably no insurance is more discussed these days than health insurance. Every politician that draws breath says they are going to revamp health care to reduce the cost of health care insurance.

So far very little has actually been accomplished.

So for the time being it's still up to each of us to find ways to reduce the cost of our own health insurance here in Massachusetts.

Ask at your work if they offer their employees low-cost group insurance. If not, check with any clubs or organizations or associations that you or any of your friends or relatives belong to. If any of them offer low-cost group health insurance look into it. Group health insurance is almost always cheaper than individual health insurance.

Joining an HMO or a PPO could save you money on your health insurance - but it could also mean that you won't be able to use the doctor that you are familiar with. Ask your doctor if she or he belongs to any HMOs or PPOs.

Start living a healthier lifestyle. You know as well as anyone that those fast-food meals are not good for you. Fried foods are terrible for you. It's time to cut way back on both.

Get some exercise. Exercise doesn't have to come from a gym or from an infomercial on TV. Exercise can come from walking briskly around the block once each day.

You'll need to stop smoking. I know I'm not the first to tell you that, but it's still true. If you are truly serious about getting the best rates on health insurance in Massachusetts then you'll need to stop smoking and you'll need to give up chew or any other tobacco products.

You'll also need to lose weight if you are overweight. Sorry - but again if you are truly serious about getting the best rates on health insurance in Massachusetts then you'll need to reduce your BMI (Body Mass Index) at least a little bit. And that's the good news. Even dropping just a few pounds might put you into a lower BMI rating at your insurance company, and if you can drop down even one rating point you could save considerably on your health insurance over time.

If you are self employed or own a home-based business ask your tax advisor if any portion of your monthly health insurance premium could be tax deductible. If you can save money on your taxes that could make the cost of your health insurance seem a lot better. It's also possible that your home-based business - even a business with just a single employee - could qualify for low-cost group rates!

Don't participate in extreme sports or drive fast sports cars. Either of those activities will increase your health insurance costs.

Can you increase your co-payment each time you see your doctor? If you can increase your co-pay to 50% then you will reduce your monthly premium. Of course, this strategy works best if you don't see your doctor on a regular basis.

What about your yearly deductible? If you can increase your deductible you will decrease your monthly premium payment. Of course, every time you increase your deductible you will have to find more money each year to pay for your own health care before your insurance will come through for you. Just make sure that you can afford to pay the deductible before you agree to it.

Now comes the fun part. Now it's time for you to get online and find 3 different websites that let you compare the prices of health care insurance at different insurance companies. Using what you have gathered from this article it's time for you to fill out the forms on at least 3 of these websites. But here's the trick: fill out the forms exactly the same on all 3 sites, otherwise you aren't really "comparing" anything.

Once all of your comparisons are done then it's time for you to simply choose the lowest-priced company and celebrate! You now know the best and the quickest way to get the best rates on health insurance in Massachusetts!