Saving Money

Cutting Healthcare Costs:

Quit Smoking: Smokers in the US spend nearly $50 million annually on cigarettes. In addition, the total cost of caring for people with health problems caused by cigarette smoking -- counting all sources of medical payments -- is about $72.7 billion per year, according to health economists at the University of California. If you have children and smoke indoors, you are jeopardizing their health, and increasing your health care costs, as well.

The Environmental Protection Agency has found:

• Between 150,000 and 300,000 cases of respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia annually in children up to 18 months of age are attributable to second hand smoke. Of these, between 7,500 and 15,000 will result in hospitalization.
• Second hand smoke increases the frequency of episodes and severity of symptoms in asthmatic children. An estimated 200,000 to 1,000,000 asthmatic children have their condition worsened by exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

If you can't quit, at least stop smoking in your home, car, and around your children.

Want to know how much money stopping smoking can save you right now? Try an online calculator www.lungs.org to see how much money you'll keep if you quit. It may take several times to succeed, but it's worth it!

Free Is Good: Call your local health department to find out about free immunizations, health fairs, or health clinics in your area.The government also offers free health care information on topics related to various health conditions.Visit www.hhs.gov for topics and resources.

Visiting the Doctor

If you do find you need to visit the doctor, here are some ways to cut your costs.

Choose the Right Care: Establish a relationship with a family practice or internal medicine doctor so that you will have a doctor to call when you are sick. Going to the emergency room or a walk-in clinic, or even a specialist, may cost more.

Is It An Emergency? Many people these days are using emergency rooms as their physicians, either because they haven't established a relationship with a doctor or because they know they can't be turned away if they don't have insurance. It can be more expensive, however, since most emergency room visits mean charges from the hospital as well as from the doctor. If it's not truly a medical emergency, a 24-hour clinic may be less expensive.

Ask About Fees: If you will have trouble paying for your doctor's visits, ask your doctor upfront if you can set up a payment plan. And don't be afraid to try to negotiate a reduction in the bill. If you don't have insurance, for example, you'll likely pay more than the insurance company would. So you may want to ask for a discount if you pay the bill at the time of visit.

Go to School: You may be able to receive free or discounted care on dental services, massages, acupuncture, or other types of health services from schools that need patients so their students can practice and learn. Check the Yellow Pages or the Internet for schools near you.