Health insurance premiums and deductibles can become costly, and continuously go u p every year depending on the plan. There are ways to help ease the burden of a high premium/deductible plan that is cost-effective while receiving the medical services you need.
Compare Plans
More than 90% of people end up not looking into their plan for the following year and renew last year’s plan by default. Not researching this can cost you greatly into the following year because your monthly premiums can increase, and/or what is covered can be changed.
Shopping around is probably the most important way you can save money. Prices can vary from not only plan to plan but from provider to provider. This is why it is important to not only shop around for price, but for the quality of services, and coverage also.
Plans with low premiums will have higher out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles and copays. These plans are more sensible for people who did not come close to meeting their deductible. Then there are plans with a higher premium and lower deductible that would be more sensible if you meet your deductible quickly.
Shopping around and comparing different insurers and plans can become time-consuming, unappealing, and strenuous. EZ.Insure does all the work for you with our highly trained agents that specialize in your region. Your advisor will do the work for you and even sign you up for a plan that matches your criteria for coverage and price, all at no cost to you.
Use What’s Free
Free preventative care services are offered at no charge as long as you are within your insurance network. There are a lot of no-cost routine services to keep you healthy and catch problems early on before it becomes serious. Colonoscopies, mammograms, vaccinations, depression screenings are all free in insurance plans. Many people are unaware of these free services and thus avoided preventative tests. Make sure to go to the doctor and use these free services to stay healthy and prevent serious health issues and expenses later.
Choose Your Doctor
A primary doctor can help you save money, which is why it is wise to do some homework an choose the right one. When you use a primary doctor who charges less then you can also find cheaper prices for outpatient services, specialist, and lab services. Talking to your doctor can lead to reliable information when it comes to quality care at a reasonable price. Your doctor can offer ideas on how to save money and help you find/refer you to less expensive prescription drugs, or diagnostic tests.
Avoid Unnecessary Bills
When talking to your doctor, there are questions to be sure to ask about medical tests and treatments that are overused. Many of them might waste your money. Some people choose to go to the hospital for an MRI or lab work which ends up costing you. Try to utilize Lab Corp or Quest Diagnostic independent labs to avoid high costs. Hospitals will charge you double the cost of an independent provider.
Leverage Tax Breaks
Putting money into a health savings account (HSA) will help with high out-of-pocket medical costs. The account will let you put aside tax-free money to cover your medical costs. HSA allows you to put up to $3,400 for individuals and $6,750 for families within a year. You can use the money to pay for your deductible and other qualified medical expenses, and whatever you do not use will roll over into the following year tax-free.