Another Rate Increase on Your Health Insurance?

Anyone with a Blue Shield individual health insurance plan will be getting a rate increase effective August 1st. This could amount to as high as 18%. What are you doing to help reduce the cost of your insurance? Have you looked in to the Health Savings Accounts? How about a higher deductible program? Looking at other carriers life Lifewise Health Plan of WA or Kitsap Physicians Service or possibly Group Health may be your answer. Do some research on your expenses this past year regardiing usage of your existing plan to see if you can go to a higher deductible and still keep your office call and prescription drug coverage. Have you utilized your medical plan at all? If you have little use of your plan this past year, an HSA or Health Savings Account may be right for you. It allows you to send less money to the insurance company, set up a savings plan to cover your regular medical expenses such as office calls and prescription drugs and this savings plan can also cover dental expenses, vision and over the counter meds. It can even include vitamins. It allows you to "take charge of your medical care" and not just send the money to an insurance carrier.