Are you spending way too much money on healthcare? If this sounds like you, then you could use some tips on finding affordable healthcare options!
by Troop Atomic Mommy
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Tending to a parent’s health is always at the top of the to-do list, though parents hardly ever seem to get around to it. It seems like we’re always running around, whether with the kids, for groceries, or other things. In turn, our health takes a back seat, which means our healthcare options do, too.
Year after year, we spend and spend on healthcare, in an attempt to keep with our health needs. Yet, some of these costs could be preventative if we only kept up with our health throughout the year. At the same time, some of the expenses could also be unnecessary. And all this means is that the expenses we spend on our health need to be looked at more carefully, in order to find some extra savings or even better options for healthcare.
That’s why we put together this list of affordable healthcare options for busy parents that have zero time to the leg work. Depending on your situation, these options may or may not work for you and your family, but they’re all worth looking into.
#1 Health Savings Accounts
A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged way to save for healthcare costs. Simply put, an HSA is a savings account that you can use to pay for qualified healthcare expenses without paying taxes on the money you save.
You can open an HSA on your own, though many insurance companies and employer-based plans, offer HSAs. Once you have an HSA, you can contribute a predetermined amount of your income to the account each year. The government will then match your contributions to a certain percentage (currently up to 6 percent, although that’s scheduled to change).
If you use your HSA funds to pay for qualified healthcare expenses, you won’t have to pay taxes on the money you’ve saved. This is a significant saving if you have to take care of multiple people, as you won’t have to pay taxes on the money you’re contributing to your HSA.
As an added benefit, an HSA is good to use with any doctor, even specialty doctors, like the ones who help you look after your skin.
#2 Healthcare Co-Ops
As the name suggests, a healthcare cooperative is a group of individuals who band together to offer healthcare services at a discounted price to members.
Typically, patients will be able to choose between a primary care physician or a specialist. In many cases, the members of a healthcare cooperative will be the only ones who can make that choice. If a member wants a different doctor than their insurance company recommends, they will have to switch to a different insurance company.
#3 Concierge Doctors
If you work in an area where there aren’t any specialists available, or if you have a job that requires you to work extended hours, a concierge doctor may be able to help. A concierge doctor is a type of doctor who has a select group of physicians who work on a referral-only basis.
Typically, patients will make an appointment online and then be seen by the doctor the next day. The cost of an office visit with a concierge doctor is often much higher than the cost of an office visit with a general practitioner or a specialist.
Other Affordable Options
In addition to the affordable healthcare options we’ve already discussed, there are a few more that you may want to consider:
- Insurance Claim Advisors
These advisors help people who have been permanently or totally disabled, receive funds if they are unable to go back to work. This saves you from being sent to collections if during your illness or injury, you are unable to pay bills. To receive funds in this special case, you’ll have to make a TDP claim with your insurance, but often times, it is denied. This is where companies like Curo Financial step in. They can help you file your TDP claim and will stay on top of the claims process with you from the beginning to the end.
- Health Insurance Exchanges
These are run by the government and marketplaces, for individuals to purchase insurance coverage. If you don’t have insurance or have a high-deductible plan, the exchanges are a great place for affordable coverage.
- State-Funded Insurance Programs
Many states run their own state-funded health insurance programs for low-income and/or vulnerable populations. These programs often have lower premiums or no premiums, with very favorable exemptions and/or reductions for people with pre-existing conditions.
- Medical Bills Assistance
Some healthcare providers will help patients pay their bills through a discount or a payment plan if they are having trouble paying. Ask your doctors if they have this option available, before committing to any visit or treatment plan.
The Takeaway
Finding a cost-efficient healthcare professional or affordable dentist is possible, so long as you are aware of their coverage options in some of the listed healthcare options. So make the most of the internet. It’s a powerful resource for helping you save those precious pennies.
