A recent article in RNcentral.com provides 25 tips on how consumers can save money on health care services – even if you do not have health insurance.  Here is a brief summary, but be sure to checkout the entire article for additional information and helpful resources. 

Medical Care

• Take advantage of walk-in clinics
• Consider alternative therapies 
• Try using a nurse practitioners instead of a doctor
• Research medical tourism
• Check out a health fair for free routine screenings
• Volunteer for medical school clinics
• Use phone medical services for less complicated issues
• Avoid the weekend
• Review your bill for errors
• Negotiate your bill

Prescriptions and Equipment

• Shop around and compare prescription prices using resources like Consumer Reports, the AARP or the Medicare Rights Center
• Buy store brands for over the counter medications
• Request generic prescriptions
• See if you qualify for freebies 
• Double up on medication
• Cut your medications in half 
• Get creative. Work with your doctor or pharmacist to see if you can't find a lower cost solution to your prescription drug costs
• Reuse and recycle. Friends, neighbors or even a church group may have equipment that can suit your needs at a greatly reduced cost 
• Shop for frames at retail stores or large chains instead of the eye doctor’s office

A recent article in the March issue of Consumer Reports identifies some contributing factors to the high cost of health care.  The article High Health Care Costs discusses some of the factors including:

 

1. Hospitals and doctors  - in our current health care system financial incentives are given for costly interventions rather than preventative care

 

2. Drug companies -  rise in prescription drug spending and large amounts of money being spent on pharmaceutical advertising (have you seen all the commercials?)

 

3. Insurance companies - increase in administrative and marketing costs contribute to inflated premiums

 

4. Politicians and government regulators - policies affect the bottom line

 

5. Lawyers- malpractice insurance premiums and defensive medicine (overuse of diagnostic tests)

 

6. Health care consumers - modifiable behaviors such as poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and smoking, all contribute to poor health

 

Here’s my recommendation.  Some of these factors consumers have no control over, but two of these factors consumers are definitely in the drivers seat.  First, healthy lifestyles result in healthy people. Make good choices.  Good health is priceless.  Second, consumers need to educate themselves.  Do your research to help you make informed choices about health care services.  Use tools like OutofPocket.com to look up prices, find the best value and make the most out of your health care dollars.  If you shop for health care services the way you shop for electronics, automobiles, and clothing, you will save yourself thousands of dollars.

 

Be sure to read the article When Consumers Are Driving Health Care, in the March 6, 2008 edition of the Raleigh News & Observer written by Max Borders, a Policy Analyst at the Civitas Institute. 

 

The seven million consumers with high-deductible health plans and HSAs, will definitely be able to relate to this story.