Good Lifestyle

Each year, the United States spends about 4.5 billions of dollars in health care, making it one of the most expensive places in the world to meet your medical needs - and has led many people to understand how Save on health care costs.

According to American Medical Association (AMA), this figure translates into average American expenses of more than $ 13,000 per year in health care, with around 30% of that which went to hospital care, 15% to doctors and almost 10% For prescription drugs . In addition to these major tickets, people also spend the net cost of health insurance, clinical services, nursing institutions, home health care and various health expenses.

However, according to financial and medical experts, there are many ways to save on health care costs if you are strategic in your expenses. Read more for their best advice.

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One of the best things you can do - not only for your health -related finances but also for your health itself - is to invest in preventive care. This can reduce more expensive treatments in the future and improve your well-being while you are there.

"For example, routine physics and obtaining adequate vaccinations can repel diseases which, if they are not treated, could lead to costly hospitalizations and emergency visits," said Armen Gazaryan , president and medical expert CALLTHECARE . "For example, if the individual is at the risk of chronic avoidable conditions, preventive care savings can total several hundred or thousands of dollars a year, which can then prevent new high costs of healthcare system. ""

Then, you must be sure to use health savings accounts (HSAS) or flexible expenditure accounts (FSA) which can be provided by your employer.

"The FSAs are tax accounts that you can use to cover medical expenses on foot on a front tax base, reducing your taxable income and, in doing so, allowing you to save money on taxes," explains Gazzaaryan. "This can save you hundreds of dollars each year, depending on your tax bracket and the amount you contribute. So, for example, if you store $ 2,000 in an HSA and you are in a tranche of tax 25%, you will actually save $ 500 a year of taxes.

Sean Fox , president of debt solutions at Digital Personal Finance Company Reach , add that you should check your sales and plan your expenses in advance.

"Plan the appointments and the procedures now; do not wait in fall or winter. Also know that you can use the funds for many types of products and services, ranging from the appointments of doctors to prescription and over -the -counter medicines, and childcare and care costs for the elderly.

For a full list on FSA qualification expenses, you can consult the full list of the IRS website .

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Another simple way to save on prescription drugs is to search for reduction cards or pharmacy websites, such as Goodrx ,, Wellrrx , And Singlecare .

"Prescription medication reduction cards are a practical option for patients who are not covered by insurance and who wish to find means to reduce the costs of drugs," said JOE TAMMARO , Vice-president of pharmacy solutions for DRFIRST . "However, even people with insurance can use reduction cards - simply in combination with their insurance. In some cases, as when a patient has not yet encountered their deductible or if a drug is not covered or has a hopay the reduction card can provide a lower cash price.

He adds that prescription reduction cards can generally be used for any prescription medication: "However, savings may vary considerably depending on the specific drug, and even with discounts, costs can still be relatively high."

Often people are unpleasantly surprised after an appointment or a procedure when they receive a medical bill by post. Fox says it is important to find out about costs in advance to check the prices and compare your options.

"With strict limits on coverage and often higher deductibles, comparison purchases can be a real active. Especially if you have an important procedure to approach, first discover the cost," he advises. "Most medical practices have a billing manager who can provide this information, which can help you prepare and plan finances."

If your doctor says it is safe and effective for you to do so, you can save money by asking for the generic drug on the brand medication.

"They are chemically the same as a brand medication and often cost less," notes Gazaryan. "It has the potential to save people up to 85% on their prescriptions."

For example, if a brand medication costs around $ 100, you might expect its generic version to cost $ 15. "This can increase huge savings over a year, especially for people who take more than one long -term medication," said Gazzaaryan.

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Fox notes that obtaining a second opinion can sometimes help you save money on health care, especially if you anticipate a major procedure.

"Most insurance policies cover the cost of an appointment from the second opinion provider. Check with your insurer first. You can find different options that are better for care and / or cost" , he said Better life .

Costs TV services May vary, but in general, these meetings tend to be less expensive than visits to the doctor in person.

"Often, you should see a health care provider in person. But in some cases - whether for consultation, follow -up or with certain symptoms - you may be able to make a remote gathering," said Fox, noting that this can be used by half, depending on the supplier.

If you have health insurance, it's a good idea to always seek doctors in your network. This includes doctors, dentists, physiotherapists and any other medical supplier you can see.

"Since network changes can occur frequently, be sure to check before planning a procedure," recommends Fox. "With many insurance plans, network doctors, surgeons, hospitals and pharmacies lead to a drop in expenses."

He explains that a new bill known as The act no surprises was recently adopted with the express aim of limiting the "surprises" of certain off -network suppliers; However, it is always important to verify that the suppliers are in the network.

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There are times when an emergency visit is inevitable - and in these moments, the cost should arrive in second position on your safety. But that does not mean that you cannot think of emergency care, potentially limiting your financial burden.

"It is essential to know which hospitals are in a network before an emergency," explains Chelsea Ryckis , founder and president of Ethics advantages , a company dedicated to the progression of health insurance strategies focused by the trustee for employers. "In an emergency, being treated in a network hospital can prevent exorbitant costs.

Fox adds that urgent care offices can also offer an alternative most of the time. "An urgent care establishment is sometimes the most suitable, capable of treating many diseases, burns, sprains and certain fractures at a lower cost. If you visit one of these installations - or a retail clinic first S ' They accept your health insurance, "he says.

If you were or be treated in an emergency room of the hospital, he recommends asking questions about financial resources: "Most have cases of cases who will work with patients and will suggest payment plans or resources who could help. "

It is tempting to shine at the sight of these astronomically high medical invoices, but there is an important reason to concentrate.

"According to some experts, up to 80% of medical invoices contain errors," explains Fox. "Call the invoicing service for your health care provider if you spot areas of concern or if you do not understand something on an invoice. Make sure to review the payments of insurance companies for accuracy, and Contact them with questions. " AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

If you know it is unlikely that your insurance scheme offers substantial coverage for a procedure, consider wondering if they offer discounts for cash payments.

"Many suppliers offer substantial discounts when a patient pays in cash, rather than submitting an insurance complaint," notes Fox. Ask in advance on this subject, before receiving treatment and before being billed.

"The discounts will vary depending on the supplier and the procedure, but it is not uncommon for the price of the fund to be less than half the price billed." He says.

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Fox also recommends you to avoid putting medical expenses on credit cards. Once you have put on your credit card, the amount becomes a "credit card debt" and is no longer "medical debt".

"In other words, as soon as you charge a credit card expenditure, it becomes money that you owe to your credit card company, not to the supplier. If you are convinced that you can reimburse your invoice Credit card and in time, it could be good.

Finally, do not be afraid to ask for help or request discounts to which you think you are entitled. Seniors, Veterans , teachers, health workers and others tend to obtain preferential treatment.

"Contact local organizations that provide financial assistance. These may include charitable foundations, churches or government agencies," said Fox. "Organizations ranging from auto clubs to groups of former students can offer discounts."