Health Insurance With High Blood Pressure

Health Insurance Rate Ups For High Blood Pressue

One of the things you are always rated up on i.e. charged more than the standard rate when it comes to health insurance and life insurance is high blood pressure. Insurers combine this number with your age, gender, weight and lifestyle to determine your monthly premium. So if you want to lower your cost for life and health insurance – lower your blood pressure.

Note: In general, health insurance companies may want you to demonstrate normal blood pressure ratings for six months before they will consider you for a standard or "controlled" rate and acceptance.

Sometimes you have no choice but to take medication, but there are other lifestyle changes which may help. Even if you end up having to take medication you may still qualify for the better rates. Term life insurance companies are more interested in your actual levels when you apply for coverage than how you manage them. So you can see it is in your best interest to get your blood pressure down either through medication or lifestyle changes. In general, a blood pressure level of 140 over 90 is considered to be high meaning you have what is called hypertension. In the world of underwriting (how insurers figure out rates) having high blood pressure alone does not affect your rates. When your high blood pressure is combined with such factors as obesity, smoking and high cholesterol your rates will go up.

So first let’s get a basic understanding of blood pressure. It has two parts:

Systolic pressure is the top number which represents the pressure the heart generates to pump blood to the rest of the body.

Diastolic pressure is the bottom number which refers to the pressure in the blood vessels between heartbeats.

Normal blood pressure is generally defined as systolic pressure of less than 120 and diastolic blood pressure of less than 80. If you have systolic blood pressure between 140-159 or diastolic blood pressure between 90-99 you are considered Stage 1 hypertensive. If you have systolic blood pressure greater than 160 or diastolic pressure greater than 100 you are considered Stage 2 hypertensive.

Here are the common recommendations for preventing and lowering high blood pressure:

- Get regular aerobic exercise.

- Restrict you intake of salt and alcohol

- Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetable and low in saturated fats.

-Stop smoking.

-Maintain a good body weight.

All these recommendations (with the exception of quiting smoking) will also help you lose weight. If you shed pounds you make also to be able to gain dollars from the savings on your insurance rates.

Get help with High Risk Health Insurance and Health Insurance for Pre Existing Conditions.

How Private Health Insuance Works

Private Health Insurance Facts

The Kaiser Family Foundation has posted a primer on how private health insurance really works. The primer discusses the types of health plans like PPO, HMO, etc. It also discusses mandated benefits that must be provided by certain types of health insurance plans. Their is also a section on solutions for individuals who are considered high risk. In other words, each state has solutions for individuals who are declined by private health insurance, and these are outlined.

Another place to go for help if you are condidering private health insurance is your state insurance commission. We have a list of 50 state US Health Insurance Departments.

If you are shopping for health insurance, your options will vary by state and city. Get Free Online Insurance Quotes and Information here.

Diabetes Health Care

One of the most common issues with individual health care are diabetics. Many diabetics manage their condition very well, either with diet and excercisse, medications like glucophage, or insulin, and go on to live long productive lives. However most health insurance companies decline diabetics on an individual basis.

A few heath plans will accept diabetics but usually give them substantial rate ups, and these are usually structured benefit plans like United American, and not major medical insurance policies.

Every state does have some kind of high risk health insurance program - a category diabetics would fall into - but they do charge high premiums for these in many states!

I found a Diabetic Care Blog which addresses health issues for diabetics. If you are diabetic, and looking for health information or health insurance discussions I would refer you there.

Middle Class Lacks Health Insurance

According to the National Association of Realtors, 28 percent of their members lack health insurance. Generally realtors are independant contractors, and would have to apply for individual health insuance policies. On realtor who was interviewed made about $60,000 dollars a year - a good middle class income. She had cancer and could not qualify for any individual health insurance plans on the commercial markets. I am certain that almost every state has some sort of high risk plan, but of course, these plans are very expensive and they can have pre-existing condition clauses.

However, I also believe that many of the realtors have just not gotten around to applying for health insurance. I understand that it can be the kind of thing best put off until tomorrow. However, it is, of course, better to obtain coverage BEFORE you are diagnosed with a disease or have an injury.

A qualified, local health insurance agent can point you in the right direction, even if it means directing you to a government risk program.

If you would like a quick online health insurance quote, information, or the ability to find a local agent, click here