23 Ways To Cut Costs And Save Money On Health Care
Did you know most ER occurrences happen because people don’t wash their hands? According to OSHA, the components of good hand washing include using an adequate amount of liquid soap, rubbing the hands together to create some friction, and rinsing under running water. The mechanical action of washing and drying removes most of the transient bacteria present.
Exercise has been shown to signficantly decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases and increase the efficency of the body’s systems. Get at least 30-60 minutes of daily structrured exercise that varies in intensity, duration and the mode. This should be apart from the “daily living activities,” like walking to your car and carrying groceries.
You cannot solely rely on medical records to assess your health. On average, doctors have 4,000 to 5,000 patients and at times, their records are not thorough. 95% of an individual’s diagnosis wil be based upon the information contained in their personal health record! Download the personal health record form through our Wellness section online.
Make sure your doctor is open to answering your questions and devoted to addressing your needs. Always ask for different treatment options and request more educational materials if you are not versed in in any of them. Doctors that can personalize treatments well can save you money in the long term.
You can log on to your health insurance website and search an encylopedia of possible health conditions and how to care for each one of them. You may also ask your doctor regarding obtaining one during your next visit.
Would you believe that less than half of all adults make it a point to get an annual preventive exam—even though most of them are already paid for? Get yours
even it it is not. Handling conditions early in the process can eliminate costly medical bills in the future.
7. Find The Closest, Lowest-Cost Urgent-Care Facilities In Your Network
According to Klplinger Reports, the average cost of in network ER is about $1,000. A typical visit to an urgent care is $71 and a trip to a convenience care clinic is $33.
Not only will you find resource information and self care instructions for almost any health topic but specific fees for physicians, retail prices for procedures, how much you’ll pay on your plan’s coinsurance and whether or not you’ve met your deductible.
9. Get A List Of Your Insurer’s Covered Medications
70 million Americans take at least one prescription every day—buying an uncovered drug can cost you hundreds in unnecessary expenses! Log onto your insurers’s website and search “Formulary Covered Drugs” in your region.
The next time your doctor prescribes a brand name medication ask for the generic form instead. Coinsurance is usually lower as well—15% for generics and 25% for brand names. Generics are also safer because they have been on the market a lot longer.
Many mail order companies often provide a 3-month supply of medications for the same price as a 1-month supply at your local pharmacy. This stategy on the medication Crestor, for example, could save you $1,000 a year.
Some brand-name drugs don’t have generic equivalents yet—but they have a therapeutic equivalent. A therapeutic alternative is a different drug but provides the same effects of the targeted drug. For example, Mavik (blood pressure medication) costs $33 for 30 days supply. Lisinoprilis $7. The savings is $312 per year.
If you are taking a 20 mg pill twice a day, you may be able to switch to a 40 mg once a day. The savings in a typical year could be $500 or more!
Asking your doctor for samples can easily save you more than $100 each year.
15. Consider A Prescription For OTC Drugs
You can’t use Healthy Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) dollars to buy non-prescription drugs (except insulin). But you can use the money if you get a prescription for OTC drugs from your doctor. The savings could be a $1,000 or more per year.
Many dental schools have great programs for cleanings, fillings and more—all under a professor’s supervision. Typical savings range from $200-$500 annually. Contact your state dental society to find the nearest school. Log onto or
Some providers will give you as much as a 20% discount if you pay in cash. This is huge if you are in your deductible phase!
Check your bills! About 80% of doctor and hospital bills contain errors, according to Medical billing Advocates of America. If you need help contact, the Patent Advocate Foundation and they’ll review your medical bill for FREE.
19. Find Fair Prices At Health Care Blue Book
Procedure costs are immensley different depending on location. Check out the Health Care Blue Book online and find fair prices, money saving tips for each procedure and negotiating strategies.
Competition is good. Different facilities charge different prices. In network cost of an MRI at a hospital is $1,145. In networks costs of an MRI at an independent radiology facility is $560.
Eat from every food group while focusing on the proper foods that will provide superior health benefits. Eating an array of fresh fruits and vegetables provides many antioxidants and phytonutrients that can help fight off disease. Don’t forget your lean protein sources, such as chicken breast and beans, and 100% whole grains like rolled oats. Log ontofor a personalized meal plan and for further educational information to help you make better decisions. Also tryfor accurate information from professionals.
Medical records are a big deal! Errors in your medical records can cost you big time! To learn more, log on to annualmedicalreport.com. Ask you doctor’s office to see if you can review your medical record for accuracy.
Management of acetaminophen toxicity American Family Physician, Jan, 1996 by Lars C. Larsen, Stephen H. Fuller According to 1993 data, over 94,000 exposures to acetaminophen-containing medications in the United States necessitated contact with poison control centers.[1] Such cases represented approximately 70 percent of poison control center inquiries in the United States and do not include