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Tips to Save Money While Not Skimping on Healthcare
When we look for ways to stretch our budget usually the first place we look to sacrifice is our healthcare. On paper it looks like the first place one should start but smart decisions about good care are still your best investments.
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Keep to routine preventive care--- Many medical insurance policies cover preventive care with no additional out of pocket cost to you. With regular preventive care and a healthy lifestyle it may reduce illness and increase the likelihood of identifying and treating diseases early, which can also help prevent more costly care later on.
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Stay within your network of providers to keep quality care affordable. By using the providers within your plan you can take advantage of the significant discounts to help lower your out-of-pocket costs.
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Remember the emergency room is for real emergencies. Studies show that over 60% of emergencies are not really emergencies at all. A walk-in clinic or urgent care center could be your best choice both in out-of-pocket cost and time it takes to receive care.
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Save money by using a mail-order prescription service instead of going to the pharmacy. Many insurance companies now have this service available. If you are taking a medication for chronic illness, your savings could be between 10 -25% when you use the mail-order system. Your prescriptions arrive right to your door step.
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Switch to Generic Drugs whenever possible. By law the FDA requires generic drugs to have the same high quality, strength, purity and stability as a brand –name drug go to http://www.fda.gov/cder/info/consumer_generic.htm. for more information . The savings could be significant by making this one change in how you handle your medical concerns.
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Know what your insurance covers before you visit your doctor. Check out your coverage’s – simply call the toll-free number on the back of your ID member card and talk to your insurance company and ask.
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See if a FSA (Flexible Spending Account) is available for your use. An FSA allows you to put aside money before taxes for some health care expenses. But if use a FSA you need to use it within the year or you will lose the money you have in it. At the end of the year approximately 14% of people leave over $700 in their FSA – (That’s money wasted)
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