| Health insurance premiums are rising faster than | | | | If you have a dangerous job or if you drive a sporty |
| almost any other fixed cost in New Hampshire. In fact, | | | | car you can also be tagged for higher monthly |
| health care premiums are so costly that almost one | | | | premiums. |
| half of all New Hampshire families report that paying | | | | Many health insurance plans offer you an option for |
| their monthly health care premiums is severely straining | | | | the size of your co-payment (copay). Increasing your |
| their monthly budget. | | | | copay (which means you will pay more each time you |
| If your company offers a group health care plan you | | | | have a routine doctor's office visit or any time you |
| should look into it, as group plans are almost invariably | | | | have lab work done) can reduce your monthly |
| less expensive than individual health plans. | | | | premiums substantially. If you do not see the doctor |
| As high as health care premiums are, New Hampshire | | | | very often in a normal year this may be an excellent |
| residents actually have it better than the residents of | | | | option for you. |
| many other states thanks to the New Hampshire | | | | One of the fastest ways of lowering your monthly |
| Health Plan, or NHHP. | | | | health insurance premium is to increase your yearly |
| Under NHHP many residents of New Hampshire who | | | | health insurance deductible. The more you are willing to |
| cannot otherwise afford or qualify for private health | | | | pay out of your own pocket for your health care |
| care insurance (often due to a pre-existing medical | | | | before you even ask your insurance to begin paying, |
| condition) can still obtain state-sponsored health care | | | | the lower your monthly premiums will be. |
| insurance. To see if you qualify for New Hampshire's | | | | Finally, get online and check out all of your options on 2 |
| NHHP health insurance coverage go here: | | | | or more of the many websites that allow you to make |
| But even if you do qualify for NGGP insurance there | | | | quick comparisons between the prices of insurance |
| are still a number of things you can do right now to | | | | policies between different insurance companies. In |
| lower the cost of your monthly health insurance. | | | | order to guarantee that you are comparing as many |
| For one thing you can stop smoking or using tobacco | | | | different companies as possible, you really need to |
| products. Smokers pay up to 30 or even 50% more | | | | take the extra time and fill out the forms on at least 2 |
| for health care insurance than non-smokers. Similarly, | | | | (and preferably 3) different comparison websites. |
| overweight individuals, who are at greater risk for a | | | | Once you have made comparisons on at least 2 |
| number of health-related problems, also pay more for | | | | different websites you can rest assured that you have |
| health insurance. There are many good reasons to | | | | gotten the most affordable health insurance that New |
| lose weight, and lower health care insurance is one of | | | | Hampshire has to offer. |
| them. | | | | |