| Modern medical science is continuously devising new | | | | Fifth, Order prescriptions through mail: it is possible to |
| ways to keep us healthier and live longer, but this | | | | order several months' worth of supply by ordering |
| comes at a cost - health care has now become more | | | | prescriptions through a prescription drug plan (covered |
| expensive. Here are some proven and useful tips | | | | in one's health insurance). This will definitely save you |
| which will help you in cut your health insurance costs: | | | | money. Likewise, most of the pharmacies offer |
| First, Health insurance can be purchased individually or | | | | discounts on bulk purchases as well. |
| as a part of group policy. Group Policies are arranged | | | | Sixth, Use Generic Brands: Discuss your financial |
| and purchased by employers and associations for their | | | | needs with your doctor and ask him whether he could |
| employees. If purchased in bulk they come at a | | | | prescribe generic drugs rather than brand names. |
| cheaper price. The administration costs involved are | | | | Generic drugs are claimed to be as effective, only |
| reduced and employees have to pay only a part of | | | | much cheaper, than their brand name counterparts. |
| the premium thus cutting their huge health insurance | | | | Seventh, Check the accuracy of the Bills: although this |
| bills. Consequently, if you have a choice, go with a | | | | may seem like common sense, most health insurance |
| group policy offered by your employer. | | | | bills are overly complicated. Therefore, check each |
| Second, Through group health insurance policies | | | | item in the bill, verify its correctness, and whether this |
| employees can also cover their families' health care | | | | should have been fully covered by your plan or not. It is |
| facilities as well. This is significantly cheaper than | | | | very possible the insurance company has accidentally |
| purchasing health insurance individually for each family | | | | overcharged you due to a mistake, and a simple |
| member. | | | | phone call can rectify this error. |
| Third, Shop around: compare the various Health | | | | Eighth, Plan ahead: according to current IRS rules it is |
| Insurance Plans. Different health insurance plans may | | | | necessary to itemize the deductions. Your total |
| offer different premiums. The quote you will get are | | | | medical expenses must go beyond 7.5% of your |
| likely to be different, and assuming all are equivalent, | | | | adjusted gross income. Once you reach this threshold, |
| you could simply go with the cheapest. When doing | | | | you can deduct various medical expenses when filing |
| this assessment, examine in detail coverage and the | | | | taxes. When filing taxes, it is possible to include medical |
| features of the plan, including limitations and exclusions | | | | expenses which cover a wide variety of treatments: |
| if any. For example, if you had to make frequent visits | | | | from basic health care services to hearing aids as well |
| to a specific type of doctor (i.e. a psychiatrist), verify | | | | eyeglasses. Make sure you keep track of these |
| whether they are covered in the health insurance plan, | | | | expenses so you could later claim them in your annual |
| and whether there is a certain quota to these | | | | tax return. |
| treatment. | | | | Ninth, Consider preventative care: some insurance |
| Fourth, This continues the previous item, when | | | | plans offer workshops that aim to improve your health |
| assessing the various health plans, make sure you | | | | in general, such as Tai Chi. Participating in these may |
| take a plan that suits you. For example, if you are | | | | not only increase your health, but also reduce your |
| generally a healthy person and rarely need to see a | | | | future health care bills. |
| doctor, you may opt to go with a plan that is less | | | | Tenth, Use free health screenings: often, local hospitals |
| flexible, offers a higher co-payment but significantly | | | | offer health screenings for free such as for cholesterol |
| lower premiums. Similarly, if you don't wear glasses, | | | | and blood pressure. By participating in these you could |
| and have good eyesight, you probably don't need a | | | | save money. |
| vision insurance plan. | | | | |