Diets are crucial for a healthy lifestyle. That’s why we educate readers about healthy eating and how to live sustainable lifestyles. But life cannot be 100% risk-free. Risks are an unavoidable part of life, and we have to bear with them. But that’s why there is insurance – a financial plan to cushion the impact of a probable loss.
Depending on your lifestyle, insurance companies will adjust how much they charge for bearing your risks – premiums. Moderate and healthy lifestyles often attract lower premiums. On the other hand, extreme and unhealthy lifestyles will attract high insurance premiums.
Changes in your lifestyle could affect your insurance premiums either positively or negatively. Here is a look at some of these lifestyle changes and how they influence your insurance premiums.
Smoking and Consuming Tobacco Products
Consumption of tobacco and its products through smoking or other methods is harmful to your overall health. It puts you at a higher risk of contracting diseases like COVID-19 and developing several other health issues.
Smoking is so notorious for deteriorating health that cigarettes are often informally called cancer sticks.
Smoking or consuming tobacco products is a red flag for insurance companies. According to the CDC, smoking harms the cardiovascular system. Chemicals in cigarette smoke narrow your blood vessels and can trigger heart conditions like Atherosclerosis, Coronary Heart Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, and Stroke.
Since life insurance is often based on heart conditions, smoking can increase premiums sharply – they could double. On the other hand, if you stop smoking and stay tobacco-free, your premiums will fall significantly.
Driving Skills
Each year there are more than 33,000 auto accidents in the US. Road accidents cause more than 36,000 fatalities and significant economic damage. How well you drive your car (evidenced by your driving record) will affect your insurance premiums.
The following lifestyle changes can help reduce your car insurance:
- Be a safe driver. Whenever you hit the road, choose to follow the rules, buckle up, and put away distractions like smartphones.
- Downsize your vehicle.
- Reduce your mileage (for example, by using mass transport more often).
- Improve your credit score.
Your Daily Routine
The little things you do every day matter more than what you do once in a while. They matter because your daily routine defines your physical wellness.
Insurance carriers often require a medical exam before giving a quote. They check cholesterol level, heart condition, weight, height, blood pressure, and other metrics. Your daily routine influences the readings that indicate your health status.
Some practices will boost the readings, thus a healthier person and lower premiums. Other habits do the opposite and increase your premiums. You can adjust your daily routine and include the following activities to boost your health and lower your insurance premiums:
Sleep Well
Research shows that an average adult requires 6-8 hours of sleep every day. When you sleep well, your body rejuvenates, boosts your immune system, and lowers blood pressure. However, depriving yourself of sleep increases the risk of health issues like obesity, infections, and premature exit.
Eat Healthily
Junk food and high-sugar foods are hard to get over. But they increase the risk of developing health issues like high blood pressure and heart disease. Switch diets from junk foods to health-giving foods.
Reduce Alcohol Intake
Alcohol is a subtle organ destroyer. Many people don’t know about its adverse effects on health. They continue to partake without knowing its effects on organs like the liver, kidneys, and heart. It is always better to stay away from alcohol. If it’s too hard, then reduce intake to a bare minimum.
Exercise
A daily workout (for about 20 – 30 minutes) will do wonders for your body. Apart from burning those extra calories, it’s a great way to stay fit and keep your organs functioning optimally.
Do simple activities like brisk walking, running, jogging, cycling, or gardening. They can help you meet the daily calorie target and reduce your insurance premiums.
De-Stress and Spend Time with Good Company
Stress has become a way of life in the modern world. Unfortunately, stress deteriorates our health and causes insurance premiums to increase. Nevertheless, stress is inevitable – we must find ways to reduce it.
The activities above can significantly reduce stress. But one of the best ways to de-stress is to hang out with friends, laugh and enjoy life – even if it’s for a few moments. After all, laughter is the best medicine to the heart and soul.
Lifestyles That Impact your Insurance Premiums
The lifestyle you choose will affect your health status and impact your insurance premiums. The above tips will help you to change your lifestyle and adopt habits that boost your wellbeing and lower your premiums. But you cannot avoid high insurance premiums for too long.
As we grow older, our bodies weaken and we are more susceptible to disease. So, it’s best to buy insurance while you are still healthy, young, and full of life and energy.