health insurance

Evaluate annually If you get health insurance through an employer, review your options each year during the open-enrollment season. Last year’s plan may not suit you this year. Did you get married? Divorced? Perhaps it’s cheaper to opt out of your plan and add yourself to your spouse’s plan. Here’s your chance to switch without losing benefits.

Seek the best deal If you’re unemployed and uninsured, you may qualify for group health insurance through a professional or trade association, like your college alumni association. Group plans are generally cheaper than individual coverage. If you’re self-employed, consider joining a group like the National Association for the Self-Employed ($120–$480 a year), which includes the opportunity to buy reduced-rate health insurance.

If you’re looking for individual insurance, make a list of the top five things that are important to you (paid prescriptions? best doctors included on plan?), then call several companies for quotes. You may be able to save if you can take a higher deductible or higher copay.

Find a broker The National Association of Health Underwriters (nahu.org) can put you in touch with a reputable health insurance broker. Brokers are paid by insurance companies, so you don’t pay a fee. Make sure the broker has a “big book,” meaning he or she represents a lot of insurance companies, not just two or three—you want to be able to compare several quotes.

Add flexibility Sign up for your company’s flexible spending account. You deposit pre-tax dollars (anywhere between $120 and $5,000) into your FSA to use for copays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses not covered by your insurance. It’s a great way to save: If you’re in the 28% tax bracket, for each $1,000 you put in your FSA, you’ll cut your taxes by about $280. But keep in mind, it’s a use-it-or-lose-it account, so estimate wisely and don’t deposit more than you’ll need during the year.

Doctor’s Office

Ask for a discount Everything in health care is negotiable, according to Consumer Watchdog, especially if you’re underinsured (you have to pay for the procedure out of pocket) or have a high deductible that you never reach. For $7.95 you can get a medical costs report from HealthGrades.com. Click on “Health Manager” to find the going rate in your area for more than 50 different procedures. Armed with the facts, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate. Or call your insurer’s customer service number and ask about the rates it pays physicians in your area. These rates are typically lower than the sticker price set by providers. Ask your doctor if she’ll accept a similar amount.

Find it for free If you have a health condition for which new treatments and cures are being developed, you may be able to get free medical attention. Check the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website (clinicaltrials.gov) or ask your doctor to call 800-411-1222 to find out if your condition is currently being studied.

Spread out appointments Conventional wisdom dictates an annual physical. But to cut costs on other needed appointments, such as test follow-ups, find out if you can wait 10 weeks instead of six, or request a follow-up over the phone.

Dental Care

Start flossing Daily brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent periodontal disease. Multiply the cost of treatment (from $200 for minor problems to $2,000 or more to replace a tooth if the disease is advanced) by the number of people in your family to see what a little toothpaste and a few dollars’ worth of floss can mean to your wallet.

Ask to prioritize Faced with an overwhelming treatment plan? Ask the dentist to prioritize your care, then spread out the work over a period of time.

Finance it If the work can’t be delayed and you don’t have the money, ask for a payment plan. Many dentists will work out something or will suggest a financing plan such as CareCredit (CareCredit.com), a company that lets patients make payments over 90 days without interest.

Find a dental school Try going to a clinic at a major dental school; it will be staffed by closely supervised students in their final years of training. The cost is about 50% less than for dentists in private practice. To find a school, go to ada.org and search You don’t need me to tell you that the cost of health care in America is skyrocketing. I know this all too well, having just been hit with an 18.96% increase in my health insurance premium. Yikes! When I found out, I sat there in shock for a few minutes, then decided to do the only reasonable thing: cancel the policy and just take my chances.

But eventually I came to my senses and called Michelle Katz, MSN, author of Healthcare for Less: Getting the Care You Need—Without Breaking the Bank. Michelle gave me what I needed—sound advice for my problem, and a lot more ways we can all cut the cost of medical expenses.under the “Dental Professionals” section.

Hospital

Use outpatient services Many procedures, even simple surgeries and invasive tests, can be done without being admitted as an inpatient, so talk to your doctor. Schedule your procedure for first thing in the morning, and be home by evening.

Avoid weekends Unless it’s an emergency, don’t check into the hospital on a Friday. Most labs don’t work weekends, so your tests will likely wait until Monday.

Go to a walk-in clinic For routine issues like an earache or sore throat, visit a clinic (even retail stores like Walmart have them). Some take insurance, but if they don’t or you don’t have coverage, the cost will typically be affordable. Plus, no appointment is necessary.

Negotiate the cost If your insurance doesn’t cover your entire medical procedure, call the hospital’s billing department and negotiate the amount you’ll have to pay out of pocket. (Do this before the procedure, not after.)

Prescriptions

Get samples When your doctor prescribes a new medication, first ask if there are generics or OTC medications that could do the same job. If the brand name is a must, ask the doctor for samples to get you started. Go to CRBestBuyDrugs.org for reports on the most inexpensive and effective drugs, which you can print out and take to your next doctor’s appointment.

Be a splitter High-dose pills are generally priced the same as their low-dose counterparts, so ask your doctor if you can safely split a higher-dosage pill in half. Twice as many dosages for the same amount of money—or 50% off.

Find help If you have no prescription-drug insurance coverage, you may qualify for a public or private assistance program that will help you pay for the medications you need. Pharmaceutical companies run patient-assistance programs; many states and other programs can help, too.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a site (pparx.org) developed by major pharmaceutical companies and patient advocacy groups. If you’re eligible, you can enroll in programs through this site. NeedyMeds.com also offers prescription assistance programs.