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What you need to know before buying Health Insurance  

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Tips to Reduce Out-of-Pocket Medical Costs

A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation concluded that Americans are more worried about their health care costs than they are about losing their jobs. In a time where out-of-pocket medical expenses have increased significantly (more than twice the rate of inflation), concern is understandable.

There are solutions to curbing a few of these expenses; some ideas require a bit of creativity, others an open mind, but there are always a few money-saving solutions if you are willing to look.

Here are a few:

· For routine tests, (i.e. blood sugar tests, blood pressure tests, etc.) scope out health expos in your area. Usually, there are booths set up to perform these basic tests at every type of health fair or expo. You can learn about health events in your area by reading the newspaper, or watching community channels on television. They are usually hosted by colleges, hospitals, government agencies, and community centers; sometimes large companies even sponsor the expos. This is a great way to keep track of your basic health statistics without the cost of an office visit. This is not a replacement for medical care, however, and nurses at expos will not diagnose medical problems, but rather offer advice about keeping your blood pressure/blood sugar on track. They also may be able to offer helpful advice if you have health questions, or tell you whether you need to be concerned about particular symptoms.

· If there is a medical or nursing school nearby, you will typically find a low-cost care clinic. Don't believe the myths: you won't be experimented on. You will most likely, however, have to stay longer, in order to allow the students and instructors to discuss and study your condition and understand the diagnosis and treatment.

· Alternative medicine can also be an extremely cost-effective way to treat basic symptoms. This usually works best for chronic, recurring symptoms that are not attributed to a deeper, more serious medical complication (for example, back pain, muscle aches, migraines, etc. are easily treated by alternative medicines like acupuncture, yoga, or massage therapy; while diabetes, cancer, infections and broken bones are best treated by a medical professional.) In many situations, the alternative treatment is much less expensive than the conventional treatment, and can sometimes be more effective. Be sure to inform your doctor of any alternative treatments you are considering.

· Many pharmaceutical chains (Eckerd, CVS, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) are now opening their own in-store clinics, which are staffed by nurse practitioners and are able to diagnose basic complications, as well as write prescriptions. The cost of the treatment (usually $20 to $60) is considerably less that what you might pay at a physician's office.

· If you have a recurring illness, such as a sinus infection or allergies, your doctor may be able to treat you over the phone, or call in a prescription for you. This saves you the cost of the visit, and even the travel over to the office. If your doctor can't help you, you can also try calling TelaDoc (www.teladoc.com), which provides fast telephone consultations. TelaDoc is staffed by over 200 actual physicians, and costs $35, in addition to a monthly subscription fee.

· You can always comparison shop for the drugs you need to buy. The prices can very greatly between different pharmacies. You can even order online. Remember that it is illegal to buy drugs from other countries (even Canada), and they will not be covered by your insurance plan.

· Consider buying generic drugs, as they contain the same active ingredients as the brand-name drug but do not require the same advertising and research funding, so they are available for much less. Sometimes, if there is not a generic version of the drug you take, there may be a combination of generics that are. Talk to your pharmacist about possible combinations, and then ask your physician if they will work for you.

· Another great and creative way to save money is by pill splitting. For example, a drug may cost $60 for 50 doses of 10mg, and $100 for 100 doses of 5mg. Talk to your doctor to see if this is an option for you.

· You also may qualify for government aid if you have a limited income. Several states also offer pharmaceutical assistance plans which could help pay for your prescriptions as well. If you are 65 or older with an annual income of less than $14,700 alone, or $19,800 as a couple, you may be eligible for extra savings.

· Avoid weekend hospital stays, except in emergency situations. Hospitals are usually understaffed on the weekends, or have departments that aren't open, which could cost much more money than during the week. Also, remember to check your bill thoroughly, as the majority of hospital bills contain errors.

· COBRA may be a good idea if you plan to leave your job, want to maintain your medical benefits, and have a pre-existing condition. If you change from group to individual health insurance, and have a pre-existing condition, you may risk losing coverage for that condition by changing plans. If you are relatively healthy, however, there may be more economical options for you.

Getting creative with ideas for saving money could help you spend less out-of-pocket than you would if you simply accepted the options presented to you. Also, remember that it never hurts to ask. If you think your doctor might be willing to provide free samples of a drug you need, just ask. You will never know otherwise.

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