Health care is expensive—but you simply can’t afford not to get any. Here are ways to get quality health care on a budget. These tips can help you get a good discount on your prescriptions, and find the best health plan bargains in the market. Take charge of your family’s medical bills, with these amazing money saving tips.
Shop for the best plan
If you’re looking for a good bargain, don’t just pick the one with the lowest monthly premium. Instead, shop with your needs in mind. Write down your usual medical expenses (doctor’s visits, maintenance medication, dental cleanings, etc) and add them up to get an estimate of what you spend every year. Then compare this fee with what you would pay for a particular health plan’s monthly premiums and deductibles. Note: you’re not saving anything if the health plan’s coverage is so minimal that you end up paying for other things!
Look for extra services
Some health plans offer great bonuses like a nurses hotline or discounts on gym memberships and weight-loss programs. Ask your health care provider about these, or view the websites of the major health plan companies.
If your child has allergies, asthma or chronic respiratory disease, look for a health plan that gives special coverage. You may get discounts on prescriptions or at least be referred to a participating specialist.
Inform your doctor about your insurance plan
When your doctor prescribes a medicine or refers you to a specialist, give him a list of your health insurance or health plan’s covered prescription medications (usually called a formulary) and preferred provider list. Your doctor may be able to provide something that’s covered by your plan.
Ask for the generic names of medicines
Ask your doctor for the generic name of medications. Prices vary from brand to brand or even store to store, so knowing the generic name can let you shop around.
Invest in prevention
Don’t scrimp on regular doctor’s or dentist’s checkups, since staying healthy (or spotting problems early on) will always be less expensive than getting sick and requiring extensive treatment. Even simple habits like training kids to wash their hands before eating or after playing outdoors, or eating a well balanced diet, can save you thousands of dollars. If you are hospitalized, be sure to read the bill, and to fill out forms correctly, to avoid any problems in making an insurance claim.
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