Sky-high medical expenses today can be enough to financially sink many families when health problems occur.Even with health insurance, you often still face out-of-pocket costs.
That makes it tempting to weigh the bill before you make a doctor’s appointment or head to the hospital. Still, taking care of your health is crucial. It’s preferable to be financially strained but alive and healthy than to risk your life for the sake of better-looking finances.
To help, we’ve uncovered several approaches you can use toget the treatment you needwithout fearing the invoice.
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Options to Lower Your Health Care Spending
Below we’ll walk through tactics that may help you obtain medical services at a lower cost. In some cases, they can prevent overwhelming debt. Keep in mind: whenever possible, prioritize your health — even if it means taking on some medical bills.
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1. Use hospital charity assistance programs
The Affordable Care Act requires nonprofit hospitals to maintain charity care programs. If your income falls below certain levels, these hospitals must have resources available to reduce your charges. Program generosity varies by state, but the law demands that these systems offersomeassistance.
This applies whether you have coverage or not, and many health systems set eligibility higher than you might expect. Ask about the program and apply promptly — even if you consider yourself middle-income. Organizations such asDollar Forcan guide you if you need help navigating the process.
Remember this isn’t limited to emergency care. If the provider you see is connected to a nonprofit hospital, those charges may also qualify for financial aid. That often includes urgent care centers tied to local nonprofit systems and can sometimes extend to primary care or specialty offices.
2. Seek out free or low-cost clinics
Depending on your area, there may becommunity health centers offering free or reduced-cost servicesfor primary care and routine exams. These are particularly helpful if you can plan ahead. Also look for mobile clinics, which can deliver screenings and basic care in neighborhoods with limited access.
If you need a more targeted service, specialized clinics could exist in your region. For instance, consider:
- Sexual health services at Planned Parenthood (they serve people of all genders).
- Free STD/STI testing and treatment at your localCDC clinic.
- Healthcare providers that partner with charities to offerfree mammograms.
- Lower-cost dental care at clinics, including university dental schools.
TIP: If you can’t locate a low-cost clinic nearby, ask your provider about an uninsured rate. Some offices will bill you at Medicaid rates or apply a flat discount. Others may require insurance, but it’s worth asking.
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3. See if your kids qualify for CHIP
Even if you’re in a state without Medicaid expansion, and even if you can’t afford coverage for yourself, your children may still qualify for insurance. The Children’s Health Insurance Program provides free or income-based coverage for kids, so they can still see a pediatrician and receive other essential services.
4. Compare costs for major procedures
If you require services like surgery or an MRI, getting multiple price estimates can lead to significant savings. Request written quotes from several facilities and check the quality of care they provide. Higher cost doesn’t always equal better care.
Not every facility will readily provide a price estimate, and if your situation is urgent it’s not wise to delay treatment while you shop around. If your provider says you have time, comparing prices can help — but don’t postpone care that could be life-saving. If you do proceed with treatment and the bill is steep, explore charity care or financial assistance afterward.
5. Look for mistakes on medical bills
Medical bills often contain errors. This is especially common when you have multiple sources of coverage — for example, MedicaidandMedicare, or private insurance combined with Tricare. Multiple coverages create more chances for billing systems to miscommunicate and producebilling mistakes.
Addressing these errors can be frustrating, but it can also save you thousands. Try these tactics to manage the headache:
- Know what must be covered.If you have an ACA plan, federal rules require coverage for certain services each year. I frequently have to challenge an insurer for billing me for a covered service — check your statements carefully.
- Don’t fall for balance billing.If your provider attempts to bill you the gap between their charge and what Medicaid pays (beyond any state co-pays), that’s balance billing — and it’s illegal. Providers may still attempt it, so watch for it with CHIP coverage as well.
- Ask for help.Taking on insurers and large health systems is daunting. If needed, contact a patient advocacy program for support.
6. Compare prescription options
Medications can be prohibitively expensive, but if they’re necessary for your survival or quality of life, you need access to them. If affording prescriptions is a struggle, try these approaches to lower costs:
- Use a prescription discount card.Your pharmacist can usually recommend one. Ask them to price the prescription different ways — sometimes paying with a discount card without using insurance is cheaper than filing a claim through your plan. Try both methods to see which saves more.
- Check discount pharmacy programs.Large programs such as Mark Cuban’sCost Plus Drugspurchase medications directly and sell them with lower markups.
- Consider generics with your doctor’s approval.In many cases the generic performs the same as the brand-name product and costs less, but confirm it’s appropriate with your prescriber.
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Don’t Let Medical Costs Stop You From Getting Care
It’s easier said than done. Medical expenses can genuinely threaten your finances, but your health matters most. Use the cost-saving methods we’ve outlined to lower the burden. If those steps aren’t enough to calm your fears, still pursue care whenever the system permits. Your health and life outweigh any number on a balance sheet.
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Pittsburgh-based writer Harper Lane is the founder of Femme Frugality and the author of “The Feminist Financial Handbook.” She contributes regularly to Savinly.
