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We all could use some doctor deals and discounts.
You’re in luck! There are doctor deals and discounts out there. You just have to know how to find them.
Here are some ways to get the best deals for medical appointments, prescriptions, and health care supplies.
11 ways to save at the doctor’s office and pharmacy
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Make Sure Your Doctor is “In Network.”
First off, you want to go to an in-network doctor so your insurance pays the most possible for any visit. Find your doctor through your health insurance website or customer service line so you know they will be in network. Don’t just ask the doctor’s office if they take your insurance (because the answer to that is yes for in-network or out-of-network). This can be the difference between a free visit and a $150 unexpected bill or more. I learned this the hard way.
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Yearly Wellness Visits.
Go to the doctor for a wellness visit once a year. Under most health insurance policies, these only cost a small copay or, if you have a HDHP (high deductible health plan) are completely free.
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Yearly Flu shots.
Get a flu shot every fall. Under most health insurance policies, these are free. The pharmacy can check for you too so you can be completely confident that you’re covered. And you can often get coupons or gift cards from various pharmacies if you get your flu shot from them. For example, I got a $5 off a $25 purchase at CVS last year, and I got a $5 Target gift card this year. I was paid to protect myself from the flu!
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If you’re sick, go to the doctor.
Don’t wait until you get so sick that you can barely make it there. You have a much better chance of a shorter sickness if you get diagnosed and treated right away.
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If you’re sick, take some time off to rest.
Not only will this help you get better faster, your coworkers will appreciate that you are not passing any germs on to them.
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If you’re sick, buy/take your prescribed medicine.
Generic will be cheaper so ask if that is an option for what you need. However, this is one of those times where you should not cut corners to save money. Get yourself well and pay what you need to do so. Every year, I hear horror stories about people who decided not to go to the doctor or fill a prescription until it was too late. Don’t be part of those statistics.
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Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room.
In case of emergencies, you have two options. For non-life-threatening situations, opt for an Urgent Care location. It can save you hundreds of dollars. If in doubt, read this succinct list on Cigna’s website so you can make an informed decision when you need help.
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Take advantage of HSAs or FSAs.
You or your spouse may be able to opt into an HSA or FSA through an employer. These accounts can be used to pay tax-free for medical bills, medicine, and other health supplies (like band-aids). Our family saves hundreds of dollars a year in taxes on our medical needs just by paying with an HSA.
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Make sure you’re getting the best price on your medicine.
Call multiple pharmacies for prices. Get the prices ahead of time. Ask for generic options. If you have recurring prescriptions, many pharmacies also have perks for signing up for auto-refills.
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Make sure you’re getting the best price on routine procedures.
If you know what procedure you need, check prices at various in-network doctor’s offices. Prices can range quite a bit. My insurance has a website that allows me to search for procedure costs across locations, like knee surgery, colonoscopy, mamogram, etc. It also provides drug cost estimates.
Example:
More Savings Ideas: https://my.cigna.com/secure/pdf/coverage_hsa/pocket_the_savings.pdf -
Stop smoking.
This should go without saying, but I want to be thorough. 🙂 Not only will you save a crazy amount of money on the packs themselves by quitting these nasty habits, but your insurance premiums will be less expensive, your life expectancy will go up, and you’ll just feel better. Food will taste better, exercising will be easier. Basically, there are no downsides to quitting. Get friends and family to help you stay accountable, replace your addiction with a healthy alternative, and quit for good this time.
These are just the doctor deals and discounts that I’ve compiled to help you save money on health and fitness. For more ways to save on your “health and fitness” budget, read my post:Â https://wp.me/p9II31-13p
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