Saturday, February 28, 2009

How To Save On Health Care When There Is An Economy Crisis

By Alexandra Vrugt

Healthcare can be very expensive, but it is something that we all will need throughout our lives. You can avoid some of the high costs and still give your family the quality health care services and products that they need by using some of the same budgeting techniques that you use for your household's other expenses. Truth is, there are plenty of health care products services and products that you can buy for cheap...especially during this economy crisis that we are all facing. The following are health care saving strategies that you can use in a number of ways. Save money and get the health care products and services that you and your family need by:

Taking advantage of referral bonuses! Many practitioners offer referral bonuses or reduced pricing on health care services when their clients bring in new business. It makes sense for everyone involved. You get a discount, the doctor gets the business, and the person that you are referring gets to have peace of mind knowing that their health care professional has been proven to be good.

Generic drugs work! Studies show that you don't always need those high priced designer drugs. In fact, filling your prescriptions with the generic version of the drug may not only reduce your co-pay, it may eliminate it all together. Many insurance companies will not charge patients additional fees for using generic drugs when they are available. Even if the copay is only reduced for using the generic drug as opposed to the high end version, just think of all of the things that you can do with the money that you saved! Plus, isn't it better to pay $1 or $2 for a 30-day supply than $200 for a designer original? Truth is, the drugs are manufactured to do the exact same thing and they go through rigorous testing before they end up on the shelves of your local pharmacy. So, there is nothing to fear. Get the off-brand and save your cash for more exciting things.

Watching for eyeglasses deals! You will see them throughout the year, but especially around back to school time. These eyeglasses deals usually can range from as high as discounts of 50-75% to actually free specs for certain family members. Additionally, there are always loads of coupons in the Sunday newspaper that can be used for reduced pricing or buy-one-get-one deals on glasses. If your family is low to moderate income, check your child's school or the local hospital which usually knows or offers children free eyeglasses to ensure that they are able to perform properly in school.

Looking out for free money and gift cards! Most pharmacies offer some type of financial incentive to switch your prescription to them. The incentive can range from actual money to store based gift cards. Either way, you get to buy some stuff that you would not otherwise have had the cash for and they get to service your prescription needs. Don't get locked into a "relationship" with a pharmacy. Take advantage every time that there exists an opportunity to switch. Hey...free money is free money!

Clipping those coupons! Check the local circulars, the in-store flyers, and the Sunday newspaper for coupons for different health care services and products. You may be surprised at what you can actually get for free. From exams to drug samples, these coupons may end up being a lifesaver for you or someone in your family.

When it comes to saving, cost conscious customers can get the discounts every time with a little research and effort. Even in an economy crisis, you and your family can be well taken care of and can have all of your health care needs met on the cheap! - 15683

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