Beating Broke

Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

Why My Health Became a Priority

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Why My Health Became a Priority

Growing up, my parents were overweight and inactive. I was chubby through most of my childhood and disliked physical activity. When I was in my 20s, I slimmed down and exercised sometimes, but not much. In my 30s, I still exercised occasionally, but not regularly, and my weight crept back up. I knew as I aged I should exercise more, but I just couldn’t find the motivation. That changed when I began to experience heart issues.

Why My Health Became a Priority

Heart problems run in my dad’s family. I always thought I was fine because despite my inactivity and being overweight, my bloodwork always came back normal. Cholesterol was in normal range as was blood sugar. I knew I’d have to get serious one day about my health, but I kept putting it off.

When I started feeling heart palpitations, I went to the doctor. I had a stress test, and the doctor told me I had a heart murmur, arrythmia, and PVCs. His prescription? Walk two miles every day.

Implementing the Doctor’s Advice

When I received this advice from my doctor, I was obese and inactive. I started walking and watching what I ate. At first, I could only walk a half mile a day. But the more I walked and lost weight, the easier it became. Now, a year after that doctor’s appointment, I’ve lost nearly 50 pounds and am walking two to two and a half miles a day. My heart issues have largely subsided, and even better, my fasting blood sugar has dropped nearly 15 points.

Getting Healthy Doesn’t Have to Cost a Lot

For the first few months, I walked outside. However, I spent $350 to buy a treadmill to avoid walking in the Arizona heat. That’s all I have spent on my journey to get healthier.

Why My Health Became a Priority

When I compare that cost to how much I would pay in medical bills and medicines I would need if I didn’t take care of my health, getting healthier is much cheaper.

Benefits of Prioritizing My Health

There are two major benefits to prioritizing my health.

I Feel Better

Now that I’m exercising regularly, I feel much better. I sleep better, and my body feels lighter and stronger. I am able to get more done in a day.

I Avoid Expensive Medical Interventions

I should have exercised regularly years ago. Who knows? Maybe if I had, I would have avoided having any heart issues or at least delayed their onset. But I can’t change the past. Instead, I’m focusing on eating healthy and exercising regularly. Even starting these habits in midlife can affect the quality of my life as I age and help me avoid expensive medical interventions.

Final Thoughts

Many of us are guilty of thinking we’ll start a healthy lifestyle. . .sometime. But I’m here to tell you there is no time like the present. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll save yourself money by avoiding expensive medical interventions and chronic conditions.

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4 More Ways to Save on Medical Bills

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Previously, we talked about four ways to save on medical bills.  Most of those techniques involved ways to delay or forego medical expenditures.  However, sometimes medical care is necessary, and in the case of a major injury or mental health crisis, the amount you spend on medical care can be large and sudden.  When faced with large medical bills, you may feel discouraged and overwhelmed, but there are still 4 more ways to save on medical bills.

4 More Ways to Save on Medical Bills

Offer to Pay Cash for a Discount

If your large medical expense is not the result of an emergency that requires immediate attention, you may be able to offer to pay cash for the procedure in exchange for a discount.

When a woman is planning to have a baby at a certain hospital or birthing center, she can often negotiate for this type of discount, for instance.  By paying cash, she saves the hospital the trouble of going back and forth with insurance.  Therefore, the hospital may gladly give a discount.

Negotiate with the Provider

Another option is to negotiate with the provider.  Julie’s insurance didn’t cover psychologist appointments, so when her son needed therapy, she negotiated with the provider.  While the rate to see a more experienced psychologist was $125 per hour, she was offered the chance to have her son see an intern for $50 per hour.  The intern was supervised by one of the experienced psychologists.  This helped Julie feel comfortable going this route.

Create a Payment Plan with the Provider

4 More Ways to Save on Medical Bills
Photo by H Shaw on Unsplash

If you are facing medical bills in the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, make sure to not only negotiate with the provider, but also to ask to go on a payment plan.  When my children had orthodontic work done, I paid a down payment and then took advantage of the orthodontist’s payment plan.  I paid the same amount for 18 months, and the orthodontist charged me no interest.

Hospitals and other medical providers may offer you a similar type of payment plan.  Many will provide these payment plans free of interest, while others do charge some interest.  Make sure to get your payment plan in writing.  If your financial situation changes, contact the medical provider so the arrangement can remain in good faith.

Seek Assistance

If you or a loved one is facing long-term medical expenses, research, research, research.  You may find organizations that can help you pay for the services you need.

One of our children was diagnosed with high functioning autism a year ago.  We have literally paid thousands of dollars out of pocket for services.  However, even after spending that much money and seriously straining our budget, there were services like occupational and speech therapy that we could not afford.  A friend told us about an organization that helps families like ours.  We went through a lengthy application process and were approved.  Now our child is receiving speech and occupational therapy at no charge to us.

Similarly, a family friend’s husband had a catastrophic stroke from which he’ll never recover.  She found an organization that will help her pay for her husband’s long-term care.  This is something she desperately needed because her husband will be institutionalized for the rest of his life.

High medical bills can be overwhelming.  However, there are 4 more ways to save on medical bills that you can use to get the help you need and to reduce the amount that you need to pay.

Have you faced high medical bills?  If so, what strategies did you use to remain financially solvent while paying your medical bill obligations?

4 Simple Ways to Save: Medical Bills

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Every year, the price of medical care seems to go up.  We pay a hefty premium to be insured through my husband’s work, and then we have a $350 deductible and a $15 co-pay for any doctor’s visit, including wellness checks.

However, I know what we pay for medical care is not that much in the grand scheme of things; many Americans are paying much, much more for medical care than we are.

Yet, in my ongoing goal to continually lower our expenses, I’ve found a few strategies to reduce the high cost of medical care, and avoiding unpaid medical bills.

4 ways to save on medical bills
Cut those medical bills

Call the doctor before you go in.

One Saturday night, my youngest came down with a fever that started at 102.5 and climbed all the way to 104.5.  Luckily, we controlled the fever with over the counter medicine, and she was back to herself in two days.  And then it was time for my other daughter to get it.  Then, my son.  When my son got it, he was sick for three days and unable to keep down food.

Instead of bringing him to the doctor, I called the nurse.  The nurse recommended a wait and see attitude.  If he wasn’t better the next day, bring him in.  Well, he was on the mend the next day, and I saved myself the $15 co pay.

Wait to fill prescriptions.

I had a root canal a few months ago.  The doctor prescribed hydrocodone, and I promptly filled the prescription, which cost me $16 out of pocket.  I should have waited, though, because the little pain I had afterward was easily managed with aspirin.  If I hadn’t rushed to fill the prescription, I would have saved $16.

Of course, this advice does not apply to regular, monthly prescriptions need to control certain chronic conditions.

Consider an alternative to drug stores for your prescriptions.

I have to take thyroid medications.  For years, I went to Walgreen’s to fill the prescription every month.  Then I found out I could get a three month refill from Costco for a price 1/3 less than Walgreen’s.  Yes, please.

If you have a Costco or Sam’s Club near you, checking the prices for prescriptions is worth your while.  Even better, you don’t have to be a warehouse club member to use their pharmacy.

Ask for a different billing code.

My daughter had her regular wellness check in the spring when she turned 5.  This past fall, we switched doctors.  The new doctor required a new patient visit before she would start seeing my daughter regularly.  The problem?  The doctor’s office billed this visit as an annual wellness check, and my insurance provider refused to pay for any of the appointment, leaving me with a $125 bill.

I called the billing office, explained the situation, and after the billing office looked into the situation, they used a different billing code so I was only charged our typical $15 co-pay.

Insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-pays can be expensive.  Using these tips and tricks, you can shave anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred or even thousand dollars off your medical bills each year.

What are your favorite ways to save on medical expenses?