Car Insurance I recently started a new job but my employer does not offer health insurance. I’m looking for affordable health insurance. Is there anything I can do to lower my premium? By Insure.com | Posted on February 1, 2011 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. Affordable health insurance is available, but you must shop around to find it. Get insurance quotes from several companies for comparable policies to help you choose the best coverage for your dollar. To lower the premium, consider changing your co-insurance ratio–that’s how much you pay after you’ve met your deductible. A common ratio is 80/20, which means after meeting the deductible, the insurer pays 80 percent of the bill and you pay 20 percent. If you change the ratio so you pay more, your premium will go down. Another option is to choose a high-deductible plan paired with a health savings account. High-deductible plans, called major medical health plans or catastrophic health care plans, protect you in case of medical emergencies, but they don’t cover routine doctor visits. With the health savings account, you build up savings to pay your share of medical expenses. Contributions to the account are tax deductible, just like an individual retirement account (IRA); withdrawals are tax-free, and interest that accrues is tax-deferred. Unlike flexible savings accounts, unused money rolls over from one year to the next, so that the money is available anytime you need it. Keep in mind that when you shop for individual insurance, your current health will impact how much you pay in premiums. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating well to control cholesterol and quitting smoking are things you can do to improve your chances of qualifying for better health insurance rates. For more, see 12 ways to lower your health insurance premiums. In case you missed it Best Car Insurance Companies of 2023 Car insurance rates by state: The most expensive and cheapest states for car ins... What is Full Coverage Car Insurance? How much does car insurance cost for seniors? A complete guide to adding a teenager to your car insurance policy What to do after a car accident that’s not your fault Total warfare: What to do when your auto insurer totals your car Car insurance claims: Who gets the claims check? Buying and insuring a used car: Most and least expensive models to insure in 202... The Best Car Insurance for Bad Credit of 2021 The best car insurance companies for speeding tickets Car insurance after a DUI Guide to Car Insurance Discounts Proper insurance coverage for college-bound children How to read actually understand your auto insurance policy Car Insurance Companies New driver insurance grace period: What you need to know How much do insurance agents make Autonomous cars: 5 delightful and 5 distressing things Busted! Part 1: How insurance companies spot bogus claims Insurance options for rideshare drivers 10 things that are illegal but shouldn’t be 1/1 Get instant quotes now ! Please enter valid zip Get Quotes