The relationship between the stages of change for exercise and health insurance costs.

Objective: To determine the relationship between the stages of exercise participation and health insurance costs.

Methods: A hurdle model was used to examine health survey and health insurance costs data by stage of exercise participation.

Results: Employees classified in the maintenance stage (regular exercisers) of exercise adoption had lower costs and a lower probability of being classified in the high-cost group than did employees classified in the other stages of change for exercise participation.

Conclusion: This study offers evidence that the health insurance of individuals classified in the maintenance stage of exercise costs less than does that of individuals classified in other stages of exercise adoption.