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The slow economy has many of us feeling financially squeezed. Try these tips from HealthPartners to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and keep more of that money in your bank account:
Use network providers
Choose from a comprehensive network of doctors, clinics and hospitals for
high quality healthcare. Out-of-pocket costs are usually higher with non-network providers.
Find less expensive alternatives to the emergency room
Avoid high copayments for emergency room care. If you do not have a life-threatening illness, use a clinic with walk-in or after hours care. You can also ask about your doctor's availability at night and on weekends.
Talk to your doctor about your options
Ask your doctor if a less expensive treatment option is available. When you need to make a choice between two or more options, use Decision Support resources to help you make a confident and comfortable decision regarding your healthcare. Visit healthpartners.com/decisionsupport to learn more.
Save money in the long run with prevention
You might be tempted to skip important preventive screenings, but don't. They're almost always covered by your plan and can save you in the long run. Preventive care and screenings find health problems early when effective treatment can be less expensive. Healthy lifestyle choices also help you spend less on healthcare expenses. Visit healthpartners.com to view our preventive care guidelines and see what tests, screenings and vaccinations are recommended for your age.
According to a study by the HealthPartners Research Foundation and Partnership for Prevention, the three most valuable preventive health services are:
- Discussing daily aspirin use with at-risk adults to prevent heart disease.
- Immunizing children.
- Intervening with smokers to help them quit.
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The study showed these three services save more money than they cost and provide great health benefits.
Trim your prescription budget
The high cost of prescription drugs can do a number on your budget. Reduce your monthly pharmacy bill with these tips from HealthPartners:
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Ask about less expensive medications. There may be an effective and less expensive alternative. Ask your provider to prescribe medications on the HealthPartners drug formulary, as non-formulary medications may cost more. |
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Request generics. Generic medications have the exact active ingredients as brand names but cost 30 to 80 percent less. |
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Talk to your provider about pill-splitting. With some medications, an inexpensive pill-splitter cuts prescription costs in half. Not every medication splits safely. Don't split pills without consulting your doctor. |
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 Healthy ways to tighten your belt
Keep your New Year's resolutions without breaking the bank
Eating healthier, exercising and saving money are popular New Year's resolutions. HealthPartners has tips to help you keep your resolutions and tighten your belt — financially and literally.
Frugal fitness
Take advantage of discounts for HealthPartners members. Check your health plan benefits for discounts on services that help you stay healthy and fit on a budget. With a HealthPartners card, you get great discounts on a variety of health and fitness-related goods and services such as eyewear discounts, fitness equipment, weight loss plans (like Weight Watchers® and Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating®), health club memberships and more. For a complete list of discounts available with your HealthPartners Member ID card, log on to healthpartners.com.
Burn calories with everyday activities. Taking the stairs, working in the yard, walking the dog, riding your bike to work or scrubbing the floors all count as exercise.
Find exercise equipment around the house. Do your step routine on a low stool or stairs. Stretch using a towel. Make hand weights by filling empty milk jugs with water.
Work out with exercise DVDs. Rent from a video store or online service, or borrow from the library to cut costs. Also, look for exercise shows in your television or cable listings.
Take advantage of local resources. Mall walking is free. Many schools, community centers and parks programs offer free or low-cost fitness classes. Visit malletin.com/malls/walking to find walking friendly malls in your area.
Eight ways to eat healthy on a budget
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Plan grocery shopping trips. Plan menus around foods you already have. Then, make a list of additional ingredients you need and stick to it — impulse buying is a budget buster. |
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Cut out unhealthy snacks. Soft drinks, chips, baked goods and other high-calorie snacks increase your grocery bill and your waistline. |
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Enjoy home-cooked meals. Healthy recipes from past issues of HealthPartners Today e-News are available in our online archive. |
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Shop in season. Seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables are less expensive and more flavorful. Winter bargains include oranges, grapefruit, apples, kale, leeks and rutabaga. Go with frozen for non-seasonal produce. |
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Fill up on whole grains. Inexpensive oatmeal, whole grain pasta, barley and brown rice provide nutrient-rich fiber to fill you up. |
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Make some meals meatless. Beans, tofu, lentils, egg whites and peanut butter are healthy, low-cost proteins. Try canned tuna or salmon for a heart-healthy dose of omega 3 fatty acids. |
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Soup up your menus. Add veggies, beans and lentils to broth-based soups for filling, low-calorie meals. |
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Get creative with leftovers. Use leftover meats and veggies for soups, salads or casseroles. Freeze individual portions for low-cost lunches. |
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 Winterize your skin and eye care routine
Dry winter air and indoor heating are tough on skin. Take simple precautions to protect your skin in winter and throughout the year. These easy tips help you prevent dry skin that can lead to infections and reduce your risk of skin cancer:
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Take short warm showers using a mild cleanser. HealthPartners dermatologist, Carol Soutor, MD, says, "Long hot showers and harsh soaps remove natural skin oils. Choose a mild soap with a neutral fragrance that is made for sensitive skin." |
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Rather than drying off completely after a shower or bath, moisturize your skin while it's still damp. Soutor recommends using a gentle fragrance-free moisturizer that will help to reduce evaporation of moisture from the surface of the skin. |
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Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, which slows moisture loss from skin. |
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Sun damage isn't just a summer hazard. Use a sunscreen with minimum SPF 15 on exposed skin during outdoor activities. Prevent chapped lips with balm that includes sunscreen. |
Don't overlook your eyes
Your eyes also need year-round protection. Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays (which can cause damage to your eyes) is always important, especially if you live in an area where there can be snow on the ground. "A condition called 'snow blindness' can develop with excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays," says Dan Nelson, MD, HealthPartners Ophthalmologist and Associate Medical Director, Specialty Care. "This condition is similar to the ultraviolet light injuries that occur to the cornea — the clear part of the eye — when using tanning beds."
Wearing ski goggles helps to keep your eyes more comfortable when you spend extended time outdoors in regions where there is snow on the ground. Because the air holds less moisture in colder weather, dry eye symptoms are also more common in the winter. Using an over-the-counter artificial tear product 4-5 times per day can provide relief. |
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