Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Healthy Outlooks For Health Care Saving

By Alexandra Vrugt

Despite the economy crisis that many are experiencing today, there are ways for your family to save on health care. It's not as difficult as it may seem. Your family can have their health care needs met at a lower cost just by employing some of the same cost saving strategies that you currently use for managing your household's budget. Here are some ways to make health care more affordable for your family:

Referrals are great. A lot of medical practices will give a special discount or will perform some complimentary services just for getting a referral. They make money because you are bringing them business and you save or get something done for free. It's a win-win for everyone. If you really like your health care provider, it's only natural to want others to know that they provide good service. Getting a discount is even more incentive.

Generic drugs work! Studies show that you don't always need those high priced designer drugs. In fact, filling your prescriptions with the generic version of the drug may not only reduce your co-pay, it may eliminate it all together. Many insurance companies will not charge patients additional fees for using generic drugs when they are available. Even if the copay is only reduced for using the generic drug as opposed to the high end version, just think of all of the things that you can do with the money that you saved! Plus, isn't it better to pay $1 or $2 for a 30-day supply than $200 for a designer original? Truth is, the drugs are manufactured to do the exact same thing and they go through rigorous testing before they end up on the shelves of your local pharmacy. So, there is nothing to fear. Get the off-brand and save your cash for more exciting things.

Keep an eye out for those eyeglass sales! Every year, at the start of the back to school season, many eyeglass stores and superstores such as Walmart have incredible sales on eyeglasses. Some will offer discounts of 50-75% off or buy one, get one free sales. This is not only a great time to get glasses for your children to use for going back to school, it is also a perfect time to pick up a spare pair for each member of your family. In addition to the discounts at the popular stores, some may actually participate in eye care programs for those with low to moderate incomes. With these programs, which are usually in partnership with a local hospital or health care company, children can get their eyeglasses completely free!

Grab those gift cards! Many drug stores offer actual money or store gift cards when you transfer your prescription to them. Unless you are in a deep relationship with the pharmacist, you could get lots of cash and gifts just by switching stores! For many people, this is a no-brainer and they do it every time they get a new prescription.

Always use coupons! In each Sunday paper and online, you can find coupons for everything from allergy medicine to dental or medical services. Consider them free money and reap the benefits of these fabulous savings tools.

Healthcare is a part of life, but it doesn't have to be a financial burden for your family. Look for deals and opportunities for saving. Cost comparisons and coupons will help you to know when the best time is to make certain health care decisions. But, always remember to do what will work best for your family and their health even when the world is experiencing an economy crisis! - 15437

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