Helpful Tips to Save on Healthcare Costs

Did you know that there are many ways to save on your health care costs? Here are a few suggestions to help manage your healthcare costs.

Stay Within Your Network
Out of network providers can charge more and their services usually require a higher deductible and higher annual limit on your out-of-pocket expenses. If you have an HMO, you’ll have to pay the full amount of going out of network. So stay within your network whenever possible.

Seeing a specialist referred by your doctor? Make sure this doctor is in your network or else your out-of-pocket costs will be higher.

Urgent Care Center or Emergency Room
If the situation isn’t life-threatening, choose an urgent care center to lower our health care costs. Not only are they cheaper, but they’re usually faster and treat a variety of conditions such as minor cuts, burns, sprains, fever, flu, joint or lower back pain, and urinary tract infections. Emergency rooms handle such things as trauma, x-rays, surgical procedures, and other life threatening situations such as allergic reactions to food, animal or bug bites, broken bones, head injuries and unconsciousness.

Saving on Prescription Drugs
Call the number on the back of your Member ID card and ask about mail-order pharmacy savings. Depending on your health insurance plan, you might be able to get a three-month supply of drugs at a much lower rate than at a local pharmacy.

Genuine Generic
If you need prescription, ask your doctor or pharmacist about recommending a generic drug. There might be generic drugs that are just as effective as the name-brand versions, at a fraction of the cost.

Be a Joiner, a Quitter and a Loser
Be healthier and save money at the same time! Sign up for special health and wellness programs and you may get extra cash or discounts by taking a health-risk assessment, meeting a healthy weight goal, or participating in a tobacco-cessation program. Check your plan to find out what’s available for you.

Ask Your Doctor About Cheaper Facilities
Your doctor may work at several hospitals or outpatient surgery centers. While the surgeon’s charge will be the same, the hospital’s fees can vary by thousands of dollars. The cost may be even less at an outpatient surgery center, even though the same doctor is performing the procedure. Also, make sure the facility you choose is in your insurer’s network.

Your out-of-pocket costs could rise significantly unless you learn some key strategies to become a better health care shopper.

If you have others questions related to how to save on your health care costs, give us a call and let’s talk.