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When you live, unhealthy lifestyle, things can get expensive fast, and it’s not just some vices. Insurance premiums can be much more costly for those that are unhealthy. When we speak about unhealthy people, there are different degrees of healthiness. Some people may be overweight, while others are obese.
Disease & Insurance
Some diseases are hereditary, and some are brought on by our lifestyle choices. The lifestyle diseases are within our control. Things like type two diabetes, obesity, heart disease, COPB, and stroke, to name a few. In some cases, if you are diagnosed with one of these diseases you may be able to reverse it.
Whenever someone has a lifestyle disease, you can expect higher insurance costs, especially from a life insurance provider. Some life insurance companies offer no medical exam, but you pay way more for a policy like that. Plus, coverage amounts are not as high as someone healthy. Those that want cheaper rates might have to go to alternative life insurance policies like those specifically for smokers or other specific diseases.
Expensive Lifestyle Choices
Below we explore the many ways some people live an unhealthy lifestyle. Even if someone appears to be healthy doesn’t mean they are. At the beginning of this process, you should sit down and discuss with your doctor the lifestyle choices that he or she recommends you to make.
Lack of exercise – You don’t have to be a gym rat to be healthy. Just a light non-impact workout for thirty minutes a day can make a huge difference in someone’s life. One of the best exercises someone can do is walking. A simple 30-minute walk at least three to four times a week is enough to get that heart rate pounding and even lose a few pounds.
Less junk food – This is a hard one because junk food is everywhere. It can be hard, especially late nights watching TV to eating healthy snacks. But reaching for fruits or vegetables is a much smarter idea than a bag of chips or a bowl of ice cream.
Stop smoking – Smoking is one of the worse habits you can catch on too. Not only is it expensive to buy cigarettes or cigars nowadays, but many of the people that smoke develops some health problems. The more severe issues are lung cancer, which is one of the leading causes of death.
Sleep more – When you run off of only a few hours of sleep per night that increases your chances of higher stress, which could leave to increases heart disease. Studies show that you should get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. Occasionally six hours of sleep isn’t that bad as long as it doesn’t become a habit.
Drink less alcohol – Everything in moderation! Alcohol isn’t necessarily bad for you if you do it in moderation. However, if you go overboard and drink a lot, you are putting stress on your liver and other organs in your body. The opposite can be said for some wines. Red wines are loaded with antioxidants in them, which are great for your heart and circulation.
How to Get Healthy?
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Like anything in life, turning around your habits is one step at a time process. It could be drastic to try and get healthy, especially if you need to improve in several of the unhealthy categories. It is best to make a plan that is realistic for yourself. Could you stop smoking and start working out in the same week? Sure you can, but studies show it is harder to accomplish several lifestyle changes at one time.
If you are taking in too many calories and eating lots of junk food, this is probably the place you will want to start. You could lose a good amount of weight just by changing the foods you eat. It is best to consult your physician before beginning any diet to ensure it is a healthy option for you.
Final Thoughts
Insurance is just one aspect of life that can get expensive if you are unhealthy. It is a good idea to create good habits that promote health and wellbeing. Not only for your pocketbook but ultimately for your loved ones as well.
About The Author:
Ross Quade is an insurance agent from Austin, Texas. He is a speaker, author, and currently writes for multiple publications about investing and insurance related topics. When he’s not working he enjoys spending time with his family.
