Health care savings and tips
Listed here are a few money saving health care tips. If you have some tips to share please e-mail it to us.
- Split pills: Ask the pharmacist about getting higher dose pills and splitting them. We found we could reduce the cost of one of Paul's mother's drugs by a third by doing this and since that drug was costing her more than $250 a month this was a significant savings. SB
- Insurance card on file: Be sure the pharmacy has your insurance card when filling a prescription. We learned Paul's Mom's nursing home did not provide this to the pharmacy, as we thought they would. SB
- Reduced cost drugs: If you are a senior citizen or low income you may qualify for reduced cost drugs. Ask the pharmacist who manufacturers your drugs and for a phone number to contact them about reduced costs. Paul's mother currently pays $255/month for one drug. Those meeting specific income levels only pay $12/month for the same drug. SB
- Do your health providers wash their hands? The July 21, 2002 Arizona Republic had an article, "Deadly infections picked up in hospitals often preventable." Deaths linked to hospital germs now represent the fourth leading cause of mortality among Americans, behind heart disease, cancer and strokes. Nearly 3/4 of the deadly infections, or about 75,000 of them were preventable, the result of unsanitary facilities, germ-laden instruments, and unwashed hands. [Using the tips Lerner’s Consumer Guide to Health Care: How To Get The Best Health Care For Less recommends would save lives and money from increased health care costs if your hospital stay is extended due to infection.] NOTE: This book is out-of-print but still availabile at online booksellers. JHB
- Article: See Jaimie's article, Health Insurance Options Part 3, for more tips.
- Veterans: Veterans should check out getting treatment through the Veterans Administration. JHB
- Ask for a discount: Ask for a cash discount or the Medicare rate on procedures if you are not covered by insurance. JHB
- State programs for low-income patients: Many states have programs for low-income and/or uninsured women for getting their regular physicals. In Arizona, if you go through this screening and they find cancer, your treatment is covered too. JHB
- Four-dollar presciptions: Make sure your doctor checks that it is ok to substitute a generic drug on your prescription. Then see if it is in the list of $4 generic drugs offered by Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target and Sam's Club.