Americans spend a whopping $3.4 trillion each year on medical care alone. Though the exact amount each individual spends varies based on their overall health and the types of underlying conditions they have, it really adds up. Even healthy people end up spending thousands of dollars on health care over the course of the year.
If you’re like most people, you’ve looked for ways to save money each month in other areas of your life. But have you considered looking into how to reduce healthcare costs in the long run?
Surprisingly, it’s possible to lower those costs. You just need to know where to start. Here are a few proven strategies that make lowering your healthcare costs both doable and easy.
Get Your Routine Physicals Each Year
Staying healthy is the best way to reduce healthcare costs year after year. And the best way to make sure you stay healthy is to take advantage of routine physicals and screenings covered by your insurance provider each year.
In most cases, preventative care appointments will either be free or have a small copay amount that’s less than what you’d spend on a nice dinner at a restaurant.For instance, you can go for regular teeth polishing by a Dentist in Harrisburg.
Make appointments with your primary care physician and let them make sure you’re healthy. If they catch anything, the sooner they notice the warning signs, the easier and cheaper it will be to treat.
Avoid Emergency Rooms When Possible
When you need medical care but don’t want to go through the hassle of making an appointment with your doctor, it’s tempting to head to the emergency room. Unfortunately, doing so is the best way to increase your healthcare costs.
Emergency rooms are best for treating true emergency conditions. Their doctors and nurses have the training to handle severe injuries and illnesses, but you’ll pay a premium for their services.
Whenever you can, try to see your primary care physician. If they’re unavailable, look for a local urgent care provider. These facilities can handle most non-emergency care and charge a fraction of the cost that emergency rooms do.
Always Look for In-Network Providers
Believe it or not, doctors and medical providers accept different insurance plans. The ones that work with your health insurance company are in-network providers. Ones that don’t work with your insurance plan are out-of-network providers.
In-network healthcare providers offer you the lowest prices on treatments. This is because they’ve already negotiated pricing with your insurance company and are able to pass on the savings to you.
Out-of-network providers don’t partner with your insurance company and thus can’t give you the same prices.
Before you choose a provider, make sure they’re in your network. Contact your insurance provider for a complete list of physicians and practices in your area.
Do What You Can to Improve Your Health
The easiest way to save money on healthcare is to need treatments less often. Do what you can to improve your health outside of seeing the doctor.
Eat a well-balanced diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Cut out the junk food and processed ingredients whenever you can.
If you’re able, find ways to get active and exercise each day. You don’t have to go crazy—just walking around the block in the evenings can do a lot for your body.
It’s also a good idea to look at the types of habits you indulge in. If you smoke or drink heavily, try to cut back or quit altogether. This will help you give your body the tools it needs to stay as healthy as it can for as long as it can.
Shop Around for Prescription Drugs
If you take prescription medications, you likely have a pharmacy you use every time. Though using the same pharmacy may be convenient, it’s not always the best idea.
Believe it or not, pharmacies charge different prices for the same prescription medications. The best thing you can do is to shop around with different companies in your area.
Compare RX prices with each pharmacy and choose the location that offers you the best rate. This can save you hundreds over the course of the year.
Consider Generic Medications When Possible
If you rely on prescription medications to help you maintain your health, you might think that taking a brand-name product means you’re getting a better medication. Though this can be true in some cases, most generic medications work just as well as the brand-name medication.
The one way they differ is that they’re much cheaper.
Discuss your options with your doctor and see if generic versions of your medications are available. If they are and you can switch, you’ll end up paying a lower price for your medication with every refill.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Discounts
If you’re worried about the cost of a specific treatment or procedure, it never hurts to ask for discounts. Let your doctor know about your concerns and, if finances are tight, see if there’s anything they can do to lower the cost of the procedure.
Many physicians will happily work with you on prices as long as they understand what’s going on. Remember, they’d rather make a little less profit than have you go without the care you need to preserve or improve your health.
Reduce Healthcare Costs With These Tips
If you’ve been looking for ways to save money on healthcare, keep these tips in mind. When you implement these strategies to reduce healthcare costs, you’ll start seeing savings quickly.
Keep in mind that healthcare costs can change from year to year. Take your time and review your costs each year to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep them as low as possible.
Figuring out how to reduce healthcare costs is just one way to save money each month. Check out our latest posts for more tips to help you keep more of your hard-earned money in your wallet.
