At GoHealth, we make it our mission to help individuals and families find the right health insurance – by any means possible! We blog about it, tweet about and dream about, of course. But lately we’ve become health insurance missionaries, spreading the gospel about finding health insurance coverage across the nation.

This past weekend, our Vice President of Consumer Marketing, Michael Mahoney, traveled to the fair city of Charlotte, North Carolina to visit their local CBS news station, WBTV. Consumer reporter, Kristen Miranda interviewed Michael about health insurance options for recent graduates and how GoHealthInsurance.com can streamline the process of obtaining it.

In the past few weeks, America’s obesity epidemic has been making the news more than usual. A new study released by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine indicates that more than 42 percent of Americans will be obese in 2030. As for people considered to be “severely obese,” the number is expected to more than double between 2010 and 2030.

Among children, obesity rates are staggering. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. If a parent is obese, it is 3 times more likely that their child will be.

The health problems associated with obesity have a significant economic impact on the U.S. health care system. The most recent information totaled the medical cost of obesity to about $190 billion. This figure is derived by looking at both direct and indirect costs related to obesity.

An example of a direct cost would be receiving medical treatment due to your weight problem. Indirect costs are the value of income lost from things such as decreased productivity, absenteeism and bed days.

As GoHealth has reported in a previous blog, the cost of health insurance coverage also increases dramatically when one is overweight or obese. Obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. People with a BMI between 25 to 29.9 are considered to be overweight.

Under the current law, health insurance carriers are allowed to raise rates based on a high BMI. In some cases, it can increase your monthly premium payment by over $500. If your BMI is too high, an insurance company will likely deny you health insurance coverage altogether.

As disconcerting as the recent predictions about obesity in America are, let’s not just surrender to the inevitable. We have the power to fight obesity and determine our own healthy futures. Here are just a few wise things to consider entering into your rotation:

Get Your Move on and Your Grove on

There are a ton of easy decisions you can make on a regular basis to be more active. It can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or riding your bike to work a couple times a week. Dancing also is an amazing way to get some exercise. Just get creative and integrate movement into your daily routine.

Try to Keep It Cool, Daddy-o

Stress is proven to cause us to over-eat. When you’re in freak out mode and just want to grab the nearest candy bar for comfort, stop and think about flipping the script. In the time it takes to devour some junk food, you can be focusing on your breathing and getting your heart rate down. Yes, we know it sounds easier said than done. But, try it every once in awhile. No point in being stressed and adding on pounds.

Whet Your Whistle

With water! Staying hydrated is a key to losing weight and staying healthy in general. Dieters who drink two full glasses of water before meals have been proven to lose more weight than those who do not. Also, water promotes muscle tone by lubricating your joints and helping your muscles to move and contract.

There’s an App for That

Get on your smartphone and check out all the cool apps you can download to help you stay healthy, keep track of your fitness, and monitor your eating habits. That’s what technology is there for – to make your life better!

How much should couples plan to spend on retirement health care costs? According to Fidelity Investments, they should set aside a little nest egg of – brace yourselves – $240,000! This shows why it is so important for adults, both young and older, to start thinking about health care costs now.

Here are a few ways to prepare for retirement health care costs:

1. Start saving now. Open a Health Savings Account to save funds for retirement. There are many benefits to HSAs but these accounts allow individuals between the ages of 55 and 65 to save an extra $1,000 a year in the HSA account.

For more detailed information, read GoHealth’s previous blog post on HSAs.

2. Determine whether you need additional coverage. Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans may cost a little more out-of-pocket initially but typically provide more benefits than Original Medicare.

3. Understand health care reform benefits. Due to the Affordable Care Act, seniors can utilize preventive care without a copayment or out-of-pocket charge to them. But, if a procedure is provided during the same visit as the preventive visit, then seniors may get charged. Always ask your doctor questions before receiving treatment to avoid surprising bills later down the road.

4. Don’t be afraid to compare your Medicare options every year. Each year during the Medicare open enrollment period, health insurers offer new plans, get rid of older ones and can raise premiums. This is the time to compare your options to try to get a plan with a lower copayment, deductible or better hospital network.

5. Understand what health insurance and Medicare covers. Many consumers need to consider purchasing long term care for nursing home and hospice costs. While no one knows whether or not they will need long term care, this type of care is expensive so purchasing insurance for it will help with those costs down the road.