It is obvious to many that something needs to be done to keep health insurance costs under control. The alternative of not having health insurance coverage presents a graver risk than many are willing to admit. It is not unimaginable for a 3-4 day stay in the hospital after even routine surgery to approach a six figure total medical bill. There are services that are springing up to assist consumers negotiate lower medical fees from hospitals and doctors but even if a $100,000 hospital bill is negotiated down to $70,000 – how many are willing to sacrifice their nest egg or teeter on the edge of bankruptcy?

In this day of skyrocketing medical costs health insurance is a necessity not a luxury. Here are 3 easy and practical ways to save on your monthly health insurance expense:

1. Take the free money! If your employer will pay all or a portion of your health insurance premium through a group plan then enroll! However, note that many employers will only pay the premium for the employee and not the employee’s family members. This is where you will want to compare individual health insurance plans because individual health rates are much cheaper than group rates because of the differences in underwriting (it boils down to the fact that generally speaking in a group health plan everyone is accepted into the plan – even those with major health issues while on the individual side only people that are for the most part healthy are accepted).

2. Review your coverage annually. Health insurance rates are constantly changing. You will want to review your coverage on an annual basis to be sure that the company and plan that you have is competitive with what is on the market. You and your family’s health insurance needs will change as well so be sure and add or remove options and benefits to customize the plan to best fit your needs.

3. Compare different company’s quotes. It is quite amazing to see some people just accept the first plan that they happen to come across especially if they have never even heard of that particular health insurance company before. With the ease of the Internet you can do what used to be a days worth of research in about half an hour. You will want to go with a well known and dependable (probably nationwide) health insurance company but be sure and compare health insurance quotes from top companies in your zip code to get an idea of what is available.

Car insurance is mandatory in all states, and must be maintained throughout ownership. Insurance quotes can vary from company to company, and there are a few factors that you can control, and other factors you cannot. A full understanding of how insurance quotes are arrived at, will give you the best rate, and maximum coverage.

Factors that cannot be controlled include the age of the driver. Common sense tells us that a new driver would be more of a risk to an insurance company, than an established driver. Therefore a driver in their early 20′s would pay a higher premium than a driver in their 40′s. Further, elderly drivers have poor reaction time, and similarly would pay more of a premium. The ideal driving age would be between 35 to 55 years; anyone younger, or older would pay more.

Gender is another uncontrolled factor that insurance quotes are based on. Statistically, insurance companies see females as safer drivers than males. As a result, female drivers pay less than their male counterparts.

There are factors, which we can control, namely the amount of traffic tickets and accidents. A ticket is a violation of law that could potentially result in an accident. Insurance companies frown on this, and will penalize the driver with higher rates. Similarly, accidents could indicate a pattern of behavior; as such the driver is penalized with higher rates.

Where you live is another controlling factor that effects insurance quotes. Living in a rural area, puts the driver at much less risk of accident or theft as compared to living in a city. As a result, city drivers will pay a larger premium than rural drivers with very few exceptions.

Want to drive a Porsche 911 Carrera? It will cost you. The more your car is worth, the higher your insurance quote will be. The logic should be obvious.

Car insurance companies are now looking at your credit worthiness. Do you have excessive, outstanding credit, or no credit at all? If so, you are a risk in the eyes of the insurance companies, and will get socked with higher insurance quotes. Keeping your credit in check will show the insurance companies you are responsible, both financially, and on the road. As a result, you will pay lower premiums.

Your occupation can put you at a higher risk. Jobs that require many hours of driving, or driving in hazardous conditions, or places will put your quote at a higher rate. Less driving, and exposure to high-risk opportunities, will result in lower premiums. Additionally you want to keep your annual mileage down to a minimum. The more miles you drive, the greater the risk of accident.

Vehicle theft is a risk factor that can easily be minimized. Most companies will give you a discount for having better security for your vehicle. An alarm, or another approved anti-theft device will usually result in some discount. Some companies may insist on having such devices installed on more expensive and desirable cars before they even consider offering you a price.

Some companies look favorably on drivers who have taken a defensive driver’s course. They see this as a commitment to safer driving, thereby lowering the risk of accident, resulting in lower premiums.

Keep in mind these are just general guidelines, and the difference in price between various companies can be significant. What one company may consider a high-risk factor another company may not view as so important. The bottom line, keep your credit in check, be careful on the road and choose a car that fits your budgets.