Leading a healthy lifestyle, including stopping smoking, wearing seat belts when you drive, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight can decrease your healthcare costs. Interestingly it can also help reduce your health insurance premiums.

Many employers are providing financial incentives for their employees to stay healthy. By participating in your company’s wellness program, you could not only save money on your share of the premium costs, but you also may improve your health.

For example, Safeway, the nation’s third largest supermarket chain started a voluntary Healthy Measures program in 2005 and currently 74% of employees participate. Employees who participate fully in the program can see yearly premium savings of up to $780 for an individual and $1560 for a family.

Check with your employer’s human resources department to see if your company offers a wellness program with healthy lifestyle incentives. If your company does not offer such a program or if you are self-employed, or unemployed, get out and take a walk and have a salad for lunch instead of fast food!