For many non-insured people, the question of how much does a health insurance policy cost today can make or break their decision to pick a plan. It must be emphasized that insurance is a necessity in our times especially with the rising costs of health care.

Even if you have to take the cheapest plan with basic coverage, take it for indeed it is better to have health insurance to help shoulder the costs of medical care than to have no protection at all. Besides, many factors will affect the cost of your insurance plan such that you might be persuaded to think that indeed the premiums you pay are worth every penny.

Factors Affecting Costs

Health insurance plans are not islands unto themselves. Just like other aspects of modern life, it is dependent on varying degrees on the economic and political environment as well as on the applicant’s personal circumstances and preferences.

On one hand, economic and political factors include use of insurance plans amongst people and advances in medical science and medical technology. As modern medicine finds newer and better ways to prolong the lives of human beings, insurance costs will rise to meet the consumer demand. And with the proposed health care reform, we may see a shift towards greater burden on consumers of insurance plans.

On the other hand, personal circumstances will also affect the cost of the insurance policy. These personal factors will include:

– Age – As you age, your premiums will increase.

– Gender – Women will pay for higher premiums than their male counterparts

– Medical history – Your past and present health can either swing the favor of premiums for or against you.

– Lifestyle choices – Alcohol consumption, smoking habits, use of street drugs and obesity will affect the costs of the plan

– Place of residence – Each state has its own insurance laws especially where coverage and caps are concerned

– Types of plan preferred – Comprehensive plans are more expensive to pay for than scheduled benefits plans. Fee-for-service plans, preferred provider organizations, point-of-service plans and health maintenance organizations all have their costs.

The insurance company will evaluate all these factors before providing you with a quote.

Actual Costs

As can be expected, each individual’s insurance quotes will vary depending on the personal factors. If the 2008 figures for the United States is the basis, an average individual will spend around $5,000 while an average family of four will spend up to $18,000 on health insurance policies per annum.

Unfortunately, health insurance rates now cost more than compact cars. However, you have to remember that a compact car will not provide financial protection in times of medical emergencies, unlike the health insurance policy.

It cannot be denied that health insurance costs are on the slight rise. You may grumble about it but the fact still remains that health insurance is an essential part of modern life.

Do you love to indulge your senses with a cup of tea the first thing in the morning? Treat yourself with a cup of green tea to feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Green teas are known to be one of the best natural blends that offer remarkable health benefits. You can also stay beautiful for long. But, what so special about green teas? Following are some of the benefits of drinking it:

Health benefits

1. Anti-oxidants that protect the cells of your body and remove malignant cells (without creating adverse side-effects) are present in large amount. It is also the store house of Epigallocatechin gallate – the anti oxidant that is twice as effective as Resveratol that is present in red wine.

2. Recently, a Japanese research has proved that green teas if consumed on an average of 5 times per day regularly can help you to reduce your weight by 70 calories per day! So, if you are on a weight-loss diet, include this beverage to your meals.

3. This beverage is also effective in lowering LDL and raising HDL i.e. it reduces bad cholesterol content and increases the amount of good cholesterol in the body.

4. Such a product is generally rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols. Such substances lower blood pressure and sugar level in the body. It has been proved to prevent Type 2 Diabetes.

5. It is also known for retarding arthritis, and conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzhemier’s. That is why it is recommended for people of all ages. It being an anti-bacterial agent can also prevent HIV viruses from getting bound to healthy cells of the body!

6. Beauty benefits

7. Green teas also help in flushing out the toxins thereby, gives you fresh, glowing skin. It has also been found effective against premature skin wrinkles and blemishes. It is also effective solution to cure skin acne, psoriasis, rosacea, and warts.

8. Flaveboids and polyphenols in the teas also increase immunity and relieve from allergy. Such anti oxidants have the capacity to suppress allergy causing receptors within your system. So, you can avoid ugly marks left by skin allergies.

9. Large amount of fluoride present in green teas prevent cavities. The polyphenols present in the product also acts against the enzymes of the streptococcus bacteria, which stimulation of dental plaque.

Today, you will be able to find loads of stores that sell green tea. However, there are certain criteria for buying green teas, which you might not be aware of. For example, you should check whether the product you are buying contains at least 40% of raw tea leaves. So, when it comes to buying green teas, it is better to buy the best brands in the market.