If you and your family members see the doctor on a routine basis, you’re probably looking for some easy ways to cut down on your mounting medical bills. The good news is, you don’t have to look too far. There are plenty of easy ways to start saving money on your healthcare costs right away.
- Go Generic
In most cases, generic medications work precisely the same or nearly the same as name-brand medications. The most significant difference is the price – which can sometimes be hundreds of dollars cheaper. Especially if you have something like the free RX discount card, which places like Walmart usually run automatically if you ask for a generic of whatever you’re picking up.
Another great way to save on medication is to ask your doctor for free samples. Big Pharmaceutical companies are always sending out free samples to doctor’s offices, oftentimes enough to do a partial or full-on treatment with them. It never hurts to ask, and it’s rare to be denied.
- All-in-One Care
One of the best things you can do is find a family physician that offers various ancillary services to their patients. When you can get everything done “in-house,” you’ll end up saving a lot – not only on the services themselves but on gas, time, etc. If you aren’t having to take multiple days off work, drive to several locations, and pay hidden costs like transport fees, you end up saving quite a bit overall. This also just makes a trip to the doctor so much easier.
- Discount Club
There are plenty of discount clubs out there for healthcare. These will often be well under $30 a month (some even under $10) and can help you save up to 60% on doctor’s visits and follow-up care (even major surgery)! It’s a huge help, especially to those who go to the hospital frequently.
- Check Your Bill
Did you know that up to 50% of the time, your medical bill has errors? How about that these errors can cost you hundreds of dollars? It’s critical to always pour over your medical bills to ensure you aren’t being charged incorrectly due to a mistake. This is a super-easy way to save money and can end up saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on the type of medical care you’ve received. (This is especially important if you’ve been to the ER or if you’ve been hospitalized.)
- Eat Well
Health starts at home. If you eat well, exercise, and create an environment that helps you boost your mental health, you’ll quickly see health problems minimize or even melt away. As a rule, you should eat a rainbow a day (if not each meal) because different colored plants contain high amounts of different vitamins. Cutting out sugars and opting for healthier sweeteners like honey, dates, and agave can also be fantastic for your health. Making food from scratch is another way to ensure that you’re eating well since store-bought food has questionable ingredients.
So don’t stress – you got this handled! It’s as simple as eating well, doing a little reading, and switching your medications to something more affordable. You don’t have to feel burdened by healthcare – it’s supposed to help you feel better.
