It's no secret that medical costs are rising.
Here's how to fight back.
ORDER MEDICATION IN BULK: Ordering a 90-day supply of medication
by mail often costs less than hitting up your local pharmacy once a month. When
you use this method for long-term meds (generally
what these mail-orders are designed for, check for restrictions), you can
also get automatic refills so you never run out.
GET A FREE EYE EXAM: If you are 65 or older and haven't had an eye exam in three or more years, you may be eligible for a free eye exam, compliments of EyeCare America, a program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. You may also qualify for a free glaucoma test if you're at risk and haven't had an eye exam in a year or more.
SIGN UP FOR AARP: Not thrilled to be in an older age bracket? You will be when it comes to cost savings. Being considered a senior by the AARP’s standard (50 or older) comes with many perks, such as discounts on medications, health insurance, and even hotel stays and vacations.
GET RX HELP: Just as there are groups that can help with financial trouble in general, there are organizations that focus on getting people the medication they need but can't afford. Check out the Medicare Rights Center, NeedyMeds, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Partnership for Prescription Assistance, RxAssist, and The Patient Advocate Foundation's Co-Pay Relief Program. One of these groups should be able to help.
GRAB A BANANA FOR BREAKFAST: Two out of three people over 65 have high blood pressure. Up your potassium intake by eating bananas, baked potatoes with the skin, or other potassium-rich foods to help lower blood pressure naturally. Exercising and following the DASH diet can help, too, which may reduce your need for medication and cut costs.
SKIP THE DOCTOR WHEN YOU CAN: Retailers such as Walgreens, CVS, Target, and Walmart now offer in-store health clinics in many locations. These places are best for run-of-the-mill problems such as splinters or an earache, or to get a flu shot. If you don't have insurance, you can save big, $60 for a visit compared with $1,000 or more at the emergency room. But see your regular doctor for chronic conditions, serious symptoms, or broken bones.
SURF FOR DEALS: Whether you need hand sanitizer, bandages, vitamins, or a humidifier, there are tons of websites that will help you locate a deal, provide a coupon, or tell you how to get samples. Just a few are CouponCraze.com, RetailMeNot.com, FreakyFreddies.com, and FreeMania.net. Check out these sites for more details.
CONTACT NONPROFITS FOR HELP: Medical bills can be an overwhelming nightmare, and there are groups out there that want to help you. Tap into nonprofits or organizations such as the HealthWell Foundation, the Patient Access Network Foundation, or the Chronic Disease Fund, which can help pay insurance premiums or help with out-of-pocket costs.
CUT YOUR DENTAL COSTS: Regular dental exams and cleanings help prevent cavities and gingivitis (and ward off the need for dentures), but they also protect your heart. You can get reduced-cost dental care by signing up for clinical trials or by checking out local universities that train dentists or dental hygienists, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Such programs offer low-cost care via their student-training programs.
BIG-BOX BARGAINS: Many large retailers, such as Target, Walmart, and Kmart, offer hundreds of types of generic drugs at substantial discounts. You may be able to get your medication for as little as $4 or $5 for a month's supply, or $10 for a 90-day supply. Brand-name drugs may be a different story, however, so check the price.
LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL NATURALLY: Cholesterol-lowering drugs can do the trick, but lifestyle changes can help too, and may even reduce your need for medication. Increasing soluble fiber (found in oatmeal, beans, citrus fruit, and strawberries) can lower LDL, or bad, cholesterol 3% to 5%. Quitting smoking, cutting back on bad fats (saturated and trans), and getting moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week may save you even more.
STAY IN NETWORK: Choosing doctors and specialists who are among your plan's network providers is always the least costly option. But if you have Medicare and are in need of medical supplies or equipment (known as durable equipment, such as oxygen tanks and walkers), it's crucial you use vendors that “accept assignment,” or agree to accept Medicare's approved amount as payment in full. Otherwise you could be paying up to 15% more.
SCRUTINIZE YOUR BILL: Medical bills and tests can be so filled with jargon it seems like a foreign language. But don't let confusion over terms end up costing you. Ask for clarity from your provider's customer-service department, call your doctor's office for an explanation of billing policies, or even work with a professional company that specializes in negotiating medical bills.
CONCENTRATE ON CALCIUM: Maintaining your calcium and vitamin D intake as you age will help prevent bone thinning and osteoporosis. You don't have to chug a gallon of milk every morning to keep levels up. Try a variety of calcium-rich and vitamin-D rich foods and recipes to mix it up.
PICK PART C: Trim your healthcare costs by selecting the health plan that best suits your needs. For example: Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans typically have lower premiums than traditional Medicare (Parts A and B). The trade-off? Your choice of doctors and hospitals may be more limited, says Derek J. Fitteron, founder and CEO of Medical Cost Advocate, a Wyckoff, N.J.-based medical bill–negotiation and healthcare-advocacy provider.
BORROW, DON’T BUY: Check out yoga, tai chi, or other exercise DVDs at your local library, don't buy them. When the routine gets dull, it's easy to switch it up for a more interesting one. What's more, you can borrow all the latest books on fitness trends, health, diets, and nutrition, without forking over the cash.
LOSE WEIGHT IF YOU CAN: Dropping a few extra pounds can reduce your risk of having a slew of health problems. Your chances of having a heart attack, diabetes, and high blood pressure all go down and being a little lighter on your feet can ease joint pain from osteoarthritis.
GO GENERIC: Just as generic food is similar to brand-name products, generic medication is often nearly identical to comparable brand-name drugs. If your doctor is writing you a prescription, ask him or her if there's a generic version or alternative available. And also make sure any drug you are taking is on your insurance plan's formulary, or list of suggested drugs. If there's not a generic available, choosing the less-expensive brand on the formulary will keep costs down.
CONSIDER PILL SPLITTING: If you have to pay the same co-pay for a stronger dose of a medication as you would for a lower dose, it might be possible to get the higher dose and split pills to save money. This doesn't always work (such as with capsules or drugs designed to release their contents over time), but it's worth discussing with your doctor.
ASK IF TESTS ARE NECESSARY: When you set foot in an emergency room (or even an urgent-care facility) you should know the bills will be hefty. But there are some strategies to help reduce the sticker shock and prevent some overcharging. These include asking for an itemized statement, reading through your explanation of benefits thoroughly, and asking if tests are truly necessary or if there are less expensive strategies for diagnosis and treatment.
ENLIST A PROFESSIONAL: If you've tried but failed to negotiate a medical bill, it may makes sense to work with a company that specializes in these negotiations, according to Healthcare Blue Book. Find a company with a good reputation and experience negotiating medical bills; don't pay any fees upfront (the company gets a cut only if the bill is reduced); and make sure the negotiator gets a signed document from the provider (called a "release") documenting the reduced bill.
GET A FREE SKIN-CANCER CHECK: Get a full body skin-cancer check compliments of dermatologists who volunteer for the Skin Cancer Foundation. Find out when their mobile unit is going to be in your area on their annual Road to Healthy Skin Tour.
KNOW YOUR DEDUCTIBLE: Whether you have Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or a combination thereof (say, Medicare and a “medigap” supplemental policy), you should know how it works. The first step is to know what your deductible is, and if you've met it. If you've satisfied the deductible for the year, for example, you may schedule a medical procedure right away. Or you might delay having the procedure until the next year when you are going to be closer to meeting your deductible.
DRINK ENOUGH WATER: Certain medications, such as those for high blood pressure, can increase your risk of dehydration. But as you age, the sense of taste and thirst can decline too, meaning you're less likely to feel thirsty. Dehydration is a major cause of hospitalization in older adults. So avoid falling ill, and the bills that follow, by tapping into the free and healthy resource from the faucet.
DON’T DOUBLE UP: On health coverage, that is. If your spouse has medical insurance from an employer, those benefits likely extend to you. If that's the case, you won't need Medicare Part B, which covers doctor visits and other non-emergency services. Skipping this may save you $115 a month.
GET YOUR DOCTOR’S HELP: The healthcare system doesn't make it easy for consumers to cut costs, especially at the point of purchase, the doctor's office. But that's changing. Your doctor shouldn't be shocked if you bring finances into the discussion of your treatment. In fact, he or she can be your first and best advocate when it comes to keeping your medical costs down by offering advice and treatment options.
GET A SECOND OPINION: Don't jump right in to an extensive and expensive surgery or procedure before finding out if you have options. There could be another less invasive procedure, or another route you haven't yet tried. Getting a second opinion is one of the best ways to find out.
WALK IT OUT: Walking is one of the simplest and most cost-effective workouts. One study found that a walking exercise program, the study subjects met three times a week, starting with 10-minute walks and increasing up to 40 minutes, lowered the disability risk by as much as 41%.
GET A RADON CHECK: Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that can accumulate in homes in some regions of the United States. After smoking, it's the second leading cause of lung cancer. You can often get a free or reduced-price radon kit to test your home, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
By: HEALTH.COM
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"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)
"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)
"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)
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