Walk-in clinics offer a cheaper alternative in health care.
While skyrocketing medical costs are still a concern, perhaps even more troubling is the percentage of people going completely without medical coverage either because the premiums are too expensive or health insurance is simply unavailable. While there is no perfect alternative to a good, inexpensive health care plan, some options do exist. Perhaps the most underappreciated approach is to cut back on television time, increase exercise and eat a healthy diet. A healthy body is less likely to get sick and need medical intervention.
Medical Savings Accounts
Sometimes called a health savings account (HSA) or a health reimbursement account (HRA), the function of the arrangement is basically the same. Like an IRA, a medical savings account (MSA) allows a person to put aside pre-tax income to cover medical expenses. Currently, the legal limit of contributions is 65 percent of your deductible. MSAs are often used in conjunction with high deductible insurance, so they allow you to save money on premiums by not carrying the more expensive, low premium variety.
Discount Health Cards
Some retailers, especially nationwide chain franchises that include a pharmacy in their range of services, have begun programs that charge a monthly fee in return for discounts on frequently used medical services like dental, prescriptions and primary care. If you have a particular type of care you frequently need, do your research and find an appropriate discount program. It won't get you free health care but discount cards might help more than you realize.
Governments and Pharmaceutical Companies
Call health departments at the state and local government level. They often are aware of little-publicized programs that can help with everything from primary care to high-cost prescriptions. Nonprofit organizations like Healthwell.org help with payments for specific medicines and conditions. An area of last resort that may not spring immediately to mind are the pharmaceutical companies themselves. Almost all of them that produce expensive drugs also have programs to help patients with few resources. There are no guarantees you will be found appropriately needy but, if you really need the drug, it's worth a shot.
Walk-in Clinics
Walk-in and urgent care clinics around the country are often staffed by nurse practitioners and may be only half the cost of a traditional doctor visit or going to the emergency room. Such clinics bring the cost of basic health care within financial reach of many uninsured people. These retail clinics operate on a cash-only basis for patients without health care insurance.
Pay Cash
Even traditional doctors' offices and hospitals offer a cash discount, though you may have to ask about it. More expensive procedures like surgery can often be put on a payment plan with no interest accrual. With the rising annoyance and dwindling reimbursements experienced in billing government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, medical offices are finding that they come out ahead by discounting services for those willing to pay cash.
Tags: health care, help with, primary care, programs that, savings account
