Shop 'Till you Drop: Shopping for Health Insurance

Shopping for health insurance can be a frustrating hassle. There are so many companies with so many rates to compare. However, it is important to take your time and find the best company for your money. Although it may be frustrating, health insurance is a necessity. In any area, there are usually quite a few health care providers that can supply you with a quote over the phone. You could also use the Internet as a resource. By using these tools, you can make the shopping process go more smoothly.




The first step is going to be deciding which type of insurance you should be shopping for. If you have a family, it would be in your best interest to find a company that will give you one decided premium and co-payment plan no matter how many children you add to the plan at any time. Without a family, you would be shopping for individual health insurance but will need to decide if you are in need of short-term insurance or insurance for an extended period. Short-term insurance is for people who are in-between jobs and expect to enroll in whichever health insurance plan their future employer sponsors.




Once you have established what type of insurance you need, it is time to make some calls. Go through your local phone book and start calling down the line. After answering a few simple questions, you can get a quote and move on to the next company. Cost is one of the most important factors. If you find two or more of them with very similar premiums and a low co-payment amount, you should compare the benefits. Can you add immediate family at no charge? Will this health insurance include dental, emergencies, prescriptions, or doctor visits? This may help you find one that appeals more to your needs and is within your budget. Using the services of the Internet to find a company will be a very similar process. Some reputable web sites out there will ask you to fill in a few blanks and then give unbiased quotes from many different health insurance companies.




Whether you are going to be doing your shopping over the phone or on the Internet, you should use your best judgment of the information that you get on each company to decide on one that makes you comfortable. The Better Business Bureau can also help you be sure that you are not being scammed. Health insurance is a cost that is necessary to save you money in the long run on prescriptions, doctor visits, and unforeseen emergencies. Don't get left with bills that you have no way of paying because you didn't have insurance.

Healthy Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping is something we all have to do, even


though choosing the right foods can be very hard


indeed. To assist you with your healthy grocery


shopping, the tips below can indeed help make things


easier than ever before:




1. Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.




2. Select canned fruits and tuna that are packed in


water, not oil or syrup.




3. Look at the labels for the words "hydrogenated"


or "partially hydrogenated". The earlier you see


them appear on the list, the higher the amount of


unhealthy trans fatty acids the food will contain.




4. Don't buy turkey with the skin on it, and if


you plan to buy chicken - buy a chicken breast


meal.




5. When you select frozen dinners, select those


that are not only low in fat, but low in sodium


and cholesterol as well.




6. If you aren't consuming enough dairy products,


go with calcium fortified orange juice instead.




7. Go for whole grain breads, cereals, and rolls.




8. Give cantaloupe a try. With just 95 calories,


half of the melon will provide more than a day's


supply of Vitamin C and beta carotene.




9. Don't be tricked into buying yogurt covered


by nuts or raisins, as the coating is normally


made of sugar and partially hydrogenated oils.




10. Get some of the low fat treats, such as


pretzels, ginger snaps, and angel food cake.




By following the above tips when grocery shopping,


you'll avoid the bad foods and get those that you


need. There are many different healthy foods at


the grocery store, all it takes is the will power


to go past the bad foods and on to the good ones.