The rising cost of health insurance is one of the top reasons employers are finding it difficult to continue to provide their employees with the same kind of benefits they have had in the past. A reduction in the already very high rate of increase still means you are still paying more. Between 2000 and 2005 the cost of healthcare increased to the double digits.

The health care research organization, Kaiser Family Foundation,noted that since 2000, health insurance premiums have gone up 78 percent and wages only 20 percent. Yes, the rate of healthcare increase has only risen 7.7 percent this year, but it is still no reason to celebrate.

The overall cost of health insurance for individuals now averages $4,242 a year and for a family the cost usual averages $11,480. As a healthcare consumer and the person for which most of the financial burden of these healthcare costs will be funded, make sure you take every necessary step to keep you and your family as healthy as possible and avoid long term expensive illnesses.

The best way to contain healthcare costs is to be proactive with your health. The word wellness is not a new term but it certainly is not taken seriously enough by the general population. Wellness programs are designed to help prevent illnesses and or for early detection. Both will help to keep the cost of healthcare down. Yet, there are still too many individuals who take the "it will not happen to me" approach or wait to be diagnosed with an illness before they may decide to take the proper action to help themselves but the health expenses are already mounting.

My colleagues and I have learned throughout the years that these 8 strategies need to be apart of every individuals life everyday to help them keep their heathcare costs affordable. It is true however, that some will have family histories of certain diseases but that does not mean they should do nothing to help themselves. These strategies are effective for that as well. These strategies are as follows: put yourself first, behavior modification,stress management, healthy lifestyle,proper nutrition,physical activity,life ergonomics and stay on target with annual screenings. Invest in Yourself everyday.