If you’re like most you pay more attention to your car than you do your body. You supposed to change your oil every 3,000 miles right? You’re supposed to have your tires rotated every other oil change right? Your air filter and brake pads are also supposed to be changed at the appropriate intervals as well.

Now, what about your body? Do you follow the recommended AMA guidelines for routine check ups and other healthcare services? Do you pay special attention to make sure you eat a balanced diet and always take the time to get enough exercise? The reality is many Americans pay more attention to the maintenance of their car than they do their body. They feel better about buying an overpriced synthetic oil change than they do buying a decent multi-vitamin.

From an insurance perspective, your automobile insurance company has a certain expectation that you will take reasonable care of your car. Things such as the routine maintenance of your braking system and making sure your turning signals work properly are expected by your auto insurance company. Common sense says that proper automobile maintenance reduces traffic accidents and saves both you and your insurance company money.

Health insurance consumers can also benefit by taking a similar approach to taking care of their body. For the average American, regular exercise, routine check ups and following your doctor’s advice will reduce your healthcare costs in the long run. It is really very simple. By doing the things necessary to stay healthy, you will need to seek medical care less frequently down the road. Look at it this way; if you never changed the oil in your vehicle would it last as long as someone who did every 3 months? Probably not! The same goes for your body, without regular check ups and physical exams your body will be more likely to fail and cause you pain later on in life when compared to someone who receives annual exams throughout their life.

Even with a commitment to stay healthy, you will still need health insurance coverage to take care of the unexpected and sometimes unavoidable catastrophic situations. However, instead of paying the insurance company an insane amount of money for a very low $500 deductible, take a little bit more risk by switching to a higher deductible, and use the money you save in premiums and apply it towards your body? The truth is most individuals would benefit by switching to a high deductible health insurance plan or an HSA. (Health Savings Account) Depending on the specific situation, it is not uncommon for individuals and families to save up to 30% on premiums with a high deductible health plan. Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s) can then be set up to coordinate with most high deductible plans, and the tax benefits you get with HSA’s will make you and your accountant smile!

The bottom line is this, the way you look at health care and health insurance can and will benefit both your body and your bank account. Isn’t it time you take a look at your current situation?