Saturday, February 28, 2009

Healthy Outlooks For Health Care Saving

By Alexandra Vrugt

Taking care of your family's health is one of the hardest and most expensive parts of managing a household. With the cost of doctor's visits skyrocketing and fewer employers offering health care benefits, how can a family have their health care needs met? It can happen! Many of your family's health care expenses can be decreased using the same cost saving techniques that you use for daily household budgeting. Here are a few money saving strategies for getting a more positive outlook for your family's health care expenses:

Taking advantage of referral bonuses! Many practitioners offer referral bonuses or reduced pricing on health care services when their clients bring in new business. It makes sense for everyone involved. You get a discount, the doctor gets the business, and the person that you are referring gets to have peace of mind knowing that their health care professional has been proven to be good.

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.

You can always find an eyeglass sale! Even though there are better times in the year to buy glasses than others. For example the most ideal time to find the best buy, cheapest frame, or a two-for-one special is at the start of the back to school season. There are also many programs set up for low-to moderate income families that will provide eye glasses for school aged children. They are usually provided to kids for free!

Looking out for free money and gift cards! Most pharmacies offer some type of financial incentive to switch your prescription to them. The incentive can range from actual money to store based gift cards. Either way, you get to buy some stuff that you would not otherwise have had the cash for and they get to service your prescription needs. Don't get locked into a "relationship" with a pharmacy. Take advantage every time that there exists an opportunity to switch. Hey...free money is free money!

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.

These are a just a few simple ways of saving money while doing your best to provide your family with great health care services. Take advantage of what's out there. Do it as if your family is counting on it. - 15437

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