With the political battle over healthcare in the US surging forward, many Americans are left to wonder if they’ll have insurance in a few years – and how much it will cost. It goes without saying that paying for healthcare services is expensive. With prices only getting worse and the options for affordable healthcare diminishing, it is important that you find ways to keep the costs low. Though all healthcare comes at a cost, here are some ways to save yourself some money.
Choose a Local Doctor with Several Services
Yes, it’s important to be comfortable with the healthcare provider you’ve chosen to get treatment from. However, who you choose, where they’re located, and the services they can provide can all have an impact on the cost. For instance, a doctor that is located an hour away from your home is going to cost you more money in gas. A doctor who only offers basic treatment will have to refer you frequently to other doctors, whereas a doctor who has on the premise services can save you money.
Choose a Pharmacy Near You
Choosing the right pharmacy is almost as important as choosing the right doctor. Your pharmacy is where you’ll be taking your prescriptions to be filled, and choosing the wrong one could cost you more money. First, search online using terms like “pharmacy near me” to see what options you have. Then review each of the pharmacies. What are their hours? Do they always have the prescriptions you need? Will they offer you generic versions of name brand prescriptions to save you money? Do they offer prescription discounts? Do they have offer medical services like blood pressure screenings and flu shots? These are all things that can save you money.
Try to Avoid the Emergency Room
Some of the highest medical bills result from a trip to the emergency room. With a ride in the ambulance costing several hundred dollars and treatments ranging in the thousands, it’s no wonder people end up having tons of medical bills on their credit history. If you can, try to avoid emergency medical treatment. While this doesn’t mean you should drive yourself to the hospital if you’ve got a head injury, what it does mean is if it can wait until morning, wait to visit with your doctor. Other options include urgent care which is a smaller medical facility than a hospital that can save you on out of pocket costs.
Look for Medical Discount Cards
There are ways for individuals and their families to save on the expensive out of pocket costs of healthcare. Medical discount programs can be found online, at your pharmacy, and even by asking your doctor. Such programs provide patients with discount cards which can be used to get percentages off of certain medical services and prescriptions. Though there are some scams to be aware of, a legitimate company offering medical discount cards can provide an abundance of savings to medical patients.
Take Care of Yourself
The best way to cut your healthcare costs is to take care of yourself and your family. Fueling your body with the right foods, nutrients, and supplements, staying active, visiting the doctor for checkups, taking medications as prescribed, and living a healthier lifestyle can save you a lot. Not only will it minimize the times of year you need to visit the doctor, but it can reduce or eliminate the need for costly treatments and medications.
Save for the Unexpected
Just as you would save for a vacation it is important to save for medical services. Beneficial accounts like a health savings plan allows patients to save pre-taxed income for medical related expenses. This money is easily deducted from your paycheck and deposited into an account that can be used throughout the year. This way, you have money on hand for your next doctor’s visit instead of having to rob Peter to pay Paul or dip into your emergency savings.
Financial relief for the increasing cost of healthcare doesn’t seem to be in the works any time soon. Since healthcare is often something that you need, it will be important to find ways to scale back and prepare. Using these tips above and even putting funds away in a healthcare savings account can help keep you financially prepared to cover any medical expense that comes your way.
What have you done to keep health care costs low? Do you save money in a Health Savings Account? Why or why not?
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