Though we argue a lot about what solutions we need to fix our country's health care industry, we can usually at least agree on what one of the problems is: It's too expensive.
According to a recent survey, more than half of Americans see high costs associated with medical care and health coverage as the most pressing health care problem. Even more, health care costs are keeping patients away from the doctor with about one in three saying it has made them put off medical treatment and skip or postpone a regular doctor's visit.
"Medical costs are among the biggest budget busters, especially when health issues are unexpected," says Mike Sullivan, director of education for Take Charge America, a national non-profit credit counseling agency. "While some bills can't be prevented, you may be surprised that you can drastically cut your overall health care expenses by questioning, negotiating and shopping around."
Recommended For You
Sullivan offers the following 10 tips for saving money on health care.
Stay healthy
First and foremost, commit to healthy living. Eat well, exercise and steer clear of unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, medical expenses for an obese person are about 42 percent higher than someone of healthy weight. Likewise, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says it costs 18 percent more to insure a smoker.
Photo credit: Clare Bloomfield
Take preventive action
Preventive care is crucial for keeping health care costs down over time, and many insurance plans now provide preventive-care screenings without charging deductibles and copays. Annual well-visits give your doctor an opportunity to provide necessary medical advice and identify health concerns before they become major issues.
Photo: Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press. A radiologist examines a mammogram for signs of breast cancer.
Choose in-network providers
If you have medical insurance, choose in-network health care providers to keep your out-of-pocket costs down. This applies to your family doctor, specialists, health care facilities and even medical labs.
Photo credit: basketman
Assess urgency
If you need to see a doctor after hours, consider an urgent care or convenience-care clinic over the ER. You can save hundreds of dollars for relatively minor issues like a sprained ankle or the flu.
[Also read "More visiting ER for dental problems"]
Photo: Michael Schennum/Associated Press. Medicare patient Tom White, of Prescott Valley, has his knee checked out by physician Dennis Little at Prescott Valley Primary and Urgent Care Clinic in Prescott Valley, Ariz.
Maximize your deductible.
If you're close to meeting (or have already met) your insurance deductible, schedule any necessary medical procedures or physician visits in the same calendar year. Your deductible starts over at year's end, and waiting to schedule procedures means you'll pay a larger share of the cost.
Photo credit: Anusorn P nachol
Inquire about medical necessities
Some medical procedures are urgent and necessary, others are less so. If money is tight—especially if you're a private-pay patient—ask your doctor about the feasibility of delaying your procedure.
Photo: A nurse prepares a vaccine injection. AP File Photo.
Negotiate costs
If you need to see a doctor and you're paying out of pocket, be sure to compare prices. It's important to know, too, that many providers will negotiate prices or provide cash discounts to private-pay patients. While the ER is no place to barter, consider this tactic for non-urgent or elective procedures.
Review your coverage
If you're self-insured, review your coverage annually to make sure you're not under- or over-insured. If you're insured through work, evaluate your plan during open enrollment. With health-care reform changes and a variety of insurance plans to choose from, the coverage you selected last year may no longer be the best option.
Find Rx discounts
Many pharmacies extend special offers on prescription drugs. One pharmacy may advertise a $4 cholesterol medication while another may offer a low-price on blood-pressure meds. Be sure to shop around. If you have multiple prescriptions, it may be more cost effective to fill them at separate pharmacies. Additionally, ask your doctor to prescribe generics whenever possible.
Photo: Matt Rourke/Associated Press
Consider online and mail-order prescriptions
Search Web and mail-order pharmacies for deep discounts. Some even offer a three-month supply of drugs for the same price as one month at a neighborhood pharmacy.
Photo: Associated Press file photo
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
