Taking care of your health certainly isn't cheap! Even routine tests and everyday care can add up to a significant amount of money. When health costs start to stack up, where do you look? You probably already shop around for cheaper prescriptions, grocery store discounts and economical gym memberships. You might have even used online discounters, like Groupon or LivingSocial, to source deals on services from massage and acupuncture, to laser eye surgery and varicose vein treatments.
But what else can you do to cut even more costs? Follow these tips to start saving big time on all your personal healthcare needs!
- Know the terms and coverage of your health insurance policy. This one seems obvious, but it’s easy to miss annual tweaks to your plan. Call your provider to review your plan (or view it online) at least once a year, and make sure you understand when prior authorization is needed for specific services. Be sure to stay in-network to save significantly on costs, particularly if you’ll be visiting the same provider over and over again. In addition, identify an in-network urgent care center near you to save on costly emergency department bills when you have minor, urgent needs. Do your research before starting services with any provider and make sure you know exactly what is covered under your plan to avoid surprise costs.
- Score incentives and discounts from your health insurance company. More and more companies are incentivizing healthy habits by providing tools to help members keep long-term costs low. Whether you are managing a chronic condition, preventing a particular disease or simply trying to look and feel better, your insurer may have a program that will reward you for your efforts. Taking advantage of these discounts is beneficial to you, as your healthy habits will cut back on your healthcare costs over time while helping you live a happier, healthier life. It's a win-win! These wellness discounts can be the first step in setting healthy habits, and they shouldn’t raise your premiums.
Along with these incentives that reward you for your healthy actions, your insurer may offer simple discounts on everyday services, such as teeth whitening, hair restoration and even identity theft services. You might even earn a discount on prescription drugs not covered by your plan, or on devices such as hearing aids or eyewear. For costlier services and procedures, such as laser eye surgery or weight-loss and weight-maintenance programs, your insurer may offer a promotional price for using a particular provider or facility. All you have to do is ask to start taking advantage of these benefits right away!
- Ask your physician about tweaking your medication prescription. For example, depending on your medications, your doctor might allow you to take a medication in a larger dose once a day instead of using two smaller doses. As part of your insurance plan, you may have access to a health professional that can work with you and your doctor to find low-cost alternatives or therapeutic equivalents. Using generic medications can also benefit your bottom line. Check with your physician to be sure generics are a good alternative if you’re currently using a name-brand drug. Before making any changes, check with your healthcare provider. (Note: Never change how you take prescribed medication without your physician’s approval.)
- Ask your employer about healthy employee incentive programs. Many companies now offer incentives, such as a paycheck bonus or paid time off, to reward health improvements such as weight loss or smoking cessation. Ask your HR department if this program exists in your workplace.
Start saving money on your healthcare costs right away by doing your research—you've got nothing to lose (that is, except more money if you don't do it)!
About the Author
Robin Donovan is a Cincinnati-based freelance writer and magazine journalist with experience covering health, medicine, science, business, technology and design.
See more:
|
|
