In these economic times, it might be a bit more challenging to find affordable health insurance. But with that said, there are ways to reduce your health insurance premium costs. The first way is by joining group insurance. If you work as a consultant or freelancer for instance, join a freelancer's group or union to qualify for group insurance. Also, insurance companies also often provide a better rate for small groups than for individuals.

Another way to reduce your health insurance costs is by increasing your deductibles and assuming more risk. If you are presently healthy and think that you are likely to remain so in the near future, this might be the way to go. Even though you may pay a bit more up front for routine doctor's visits, it can save you quite a bit by drastically reducing your premiums.

To save costs another way, re-evaluate your current health insurance plan. Go through the provisions of your health insurance plan carefully to locate any areas of coverage that you might not be making use of. If you think there is something you can do without, contact your insurance company to see if you can eliminate these areas of coverage in return for a reduction in your premiums. Dental and vision insurance are good candidates.

Finally, although it might be obvious, it still bears saying. Buy health insurance when you are healthy so that you lock in better rates. It is much easier to purchase affordable health insurance when you are healthy than when you are most likely to make use of it.