When working on health insurance sales leads, a potential customer's location can influence how much they pay for coverage, as well as their overall medical condition.
According to recently announced research from Drexel University, people who live in neighborhoods that are more conducive to physical activity and where healthy food is more likely to be available are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
This is significant because type 2 diabetes is one of several pre-existing conditions that can drive up the cost of health insurance in the long term for people.
The researchers from the university's School of Public Health said that people living in such neighborhoods were 38 percent less likely to develop diabetes and were more likely to have a healthier body mass index and improved overall health.
Such factors may become more relevant than ever in the coming years now that members of Congress are currently weighing proposals that could result in people paying less for coverage if they meet certain health goals involving weight, cholesterol and other factors.
These issues are also relevant when developing health insurance sales leads if some customers are more likely than others to get lower priced policies.