Health Care Cost Cutters
When you’re juggling the costs of running a household—
including a mortgage or rent, transportation, food,
and other necessary expenses—skimping on health care can
be tempting. It also can be dangerous and costly if a chronic
condition gets out of control or a lingering symptom goes
unchecked.
Short of skimping on medical necessities, learn to cut and
manage your costs. Doing so will protect your health and your
bottom line.
Manage Your Care
- Maintain a personal health record. It should contain a list of the drugs you take and those you’re allergic to, the results of screening tests you’ve had, and contact information for all your health care providers.
- Understand your health insurance policy. Failure to do so makes you subject to higher medication costs, unreimbursed expenses, and higher doctor and hospital bills.
- Don’t skip preventive care. Flu shots, health screenings, and the like can help you live a healthier life and keep more of your money in your pocket. That’s because earlier detection of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes means less extensive treatment and lower care costs.
Manage Medication Costs
- Go generic. Ask your doctor to prescribe generic instead of brand-name drugs. Depending on what you take, you’ll save hundreds of dollars a year—on average, generic drugs cost less than one-third the price of brandname drugs.
- Buy in bulk. If you take a medication for a chronic condition, buying a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply means fewer copays.
- Split pills. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can safely split any of your medications.
Practice Prevention
- Increase your physical activity. Adding several 10-minute walks to your day, taking stairs instead of the elevator, and parking at the far end of the parking lot can help you lose weight, strengthen your heart, and reduce your chance of developing diabetes.
- Choose healthier foods. Eating a lower-fat, reduced-calorie diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables is one of the best ways to lower medical bills.
- Don’t smoke or drink too much. These habits contribute to several kinds of cancer and heart disease.
- Manage chronic conditions. Follow your treatment plan if you have diabetes, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, or another condition. Doing so will reduce your costs and help you live a healthier, longer life.
© StayWell Custom Communications. Information is the opinion of the sourced authors and organizations. Personal decisions regarding health, diet, and exercise should be made only after consultation with the reader's own medical advisers. This material may not be reproduced for redistribution without written permission from StayWell Custom Communications.
