Have you ever felt under-insured?
If you answered yes, you are certainly not alone. Last year, a family of four spent an average of more than $3,600 in out-of-pocket Healthcare costs. That’s with employer-sponsored insurance, according to the annual Milliman Medical Index.
And, while Obamacare will help improve access to health insurance plans for Americans, people will still be looking for ways to Save Money on healthcare.
Here are four ways to help you fill your health insurance gaps in coverage:
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Double-Check Medical Bills: According to the Medical Billing Advocates of America, roughly eight out of 10 medical bills contain errors. A shocking number, but let’s face it, healthcare professionals are human and mistakes can happen. Be sure to thoroughly check all of your medical bills. If you have any questions, contact the appropriate department noted on your bill.
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Purchase a Critical Illness Insurance Policy: The cost of care for a critical illness can be overwhelming. Major health conditions such as cancer, stroke and heart attack are among the 10 most expensive medical events for people. Critical illness insurance can help with out-of-pocket health costs, and more, if a worst-case healthcare scenario happens. Supplemental plans pay a lump-sum amount of up to $100,000 upon first diagnosis for a critical illness policy-holder to use as they choose for medical and non-medical bills. Click here to learn more about critical illness insurance.
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Schedule a “Pill Review”: An Obamacare provision in the Affordable Care Act, known as “medication therapy management,” encourages pharmacists to consult more with patients at their request. If you are taking several medications and paying a lot out-of-pocket, you can arrange for a “pill review” with your pharmacist to find out if there are any duplications or recommendations for generic medications without altering your prescribed treatment.
- Go to the Web: Many websites can help you find ways to save money on healthcare costs. The site GoodRx lets you comparison-shop for medication at a pharmacist near you. HealthCareBlueBook shows you the average price for a procedure in your area to check if you are being charged a fair price. And, InsureMe lets you shop and compare competitive rates for various insurance products, including auto, home and health.
For more ways to save money on healthcare, you can view this slideshow at Kiplinger.com. You can also visit CancerInsurance.com to learn more about tip #2 for Critical Illness Insurance.
How do you save money on out-of-pocket healthcare costs? Please share your tips with our readers in the comments below.
(Image via NPR.org.)
