by Daniel Bell
You want the best of healthcare that you can get. However, you don’t want to be paying much more than you should. It’s wise to not want to skimp on medical costs. At the same time, there are ways to save on these costs without sacrificing the quality of your services. Any changes to your medical plans have big consequences, so be sure to consider each options. Our advice can help you do that while knowing what to look for, exactly.
Stay in your own network
Most healthcare plans offer all kinds of treatments with a small caveat. This caveat is that you’ll be expected to stay within a certain network of practitioners, practices and clinics. We recommend that you do just that. There’s nothing stopping you from seeking treatment elsewhere. Staying in the network, even if you’re switching doctors, will save you considerably, however. Read more here about the pros and cons of in-network and out-network treatment.
Do your research on your physicians
Quality of care isn’t the only thing practices are being scrutinized for. The cost-effectiveness of physicians is something getting a lot more attention. You can visit the UnitedHealth Premium website to get more information. Their performance measurement & reporting page has all the details you need on the majority of practices in the country. This can stop you from choosing a practice recommending needlessly expensive treatments.
Use outpatient care
Outpatient care is always cheaper than inpatient care. This is because you’re not making use of hospital space and equipment, most of the time. Of course, this tip depends on the severity of your illness. But if you visit a doctor, it’s always a good idea to ask whether you’ll recover just as well from outpatient care. You will likely need someone who can transport you to and from the hospital, depending on your illness and treatments. Find out more about the pros and cons of outpatient care here.
Take advantage of preventative care
With the new Affordable Healthcare Act, new options have opened up for free. This includes lots of preventative care, that is any treatments aimed at stopping certain problems for arising. Some of the following preventative care steps are covered:
- HIV screening
- Diet counseling
- Blood pressure screening
- Aneurysm scanning for men who have smoked
- Diabetes screening
- Immunization
If you’re worried about any of these problems, or the others listed here, make sure to take advantage of the free treatment available.
Cut down on prescription costs
Prescription medicine can very well make the bulk of your medical bills in any one year. However, there’s a free way to save money on these as well. Prescription coupons can be used immediately and cut down your costs from 10-75%. Check if your pharmacy is one of the eligible ones then simply print off your coupon.
There you have it. Keep an eye on your healthcare network and the practices you visit. As well as the free cost-cutters available, these can make worrying about affording healthcare a thing of the past. If you’re thinking about employee healthcare, take a look at this article, too.
