Related: Rising health care costs and the toll on employee wellbeing

WalletHub offers several tips to reduce health care expenses.

Get insured. Although health insurance premiums can be expensive, being insured protects consumers from extremely expensive events, such as hospitalizations or surgeries. Without insurance, they are on the hook for every dollar that their care costs.
Use preventive care. This can help prevent health issues from happening or catch them before they become serious. The cost for these services is miniscule compared to treating health conditions that could have been avoided.
Budget carefully. Always consider health care costs when making a budget. Make sure to budget not only for insurance premiums and also set aside money each month to build an emergency fund that can cover at least six months' worth of expenses.
Try to lead a healthy lifestyle. Pairing a nutritious diet with regular exercise can help people stay in good health and make them less vulnerable to sickness.
Try telehealth. These visits may be less expensive than going to the doctor in person, although they may not be the best fit for all medical situations.
Use a health savings account. This lowers taxable income, which leads to savings at tax time. In addition, contributions made outside of payroll also are tax deductible.
Use a rewards credit card. Paying back medical bills with a rewards credit card can earn back a portion of the cost. Just make sure to pay off the card in full every month.

"For the average person, the best thing they can do is practice some preventive health -- eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, get adequate rest and get some regular exercise," said Jeff Helton, Ph.D., of the University of Colorado-Denver Business School. "Just those few easy things can prevent the expensive health care that comes up when you let yourself go."

Instant Insights /

Health care costs soar to $1,425 out-of-pocket, vary wildly by state

More From HR Executive

Related Stories

Recommended For You