Saving Every Day - Sound Mind, Sound Body, Sound Wallet
Taking care of your health and your family's health saves money in the long run. Just like regular car maintenance, the better you take care of your body now, the fewer costly health remedies you will potentially have to pay for in the future. What can you do now?
Begin with the basics:
- Everyone knows that exercising, eating right,
and scheduling regular checkups with a doctor are important. Turn these
healthy practices into your good habits by starting one day at a time.
- Avoid fast food and "super-sized" meals. What
you might save in convenience, you'll often pay for later in increased
health risks.
- Early detection of ailments can prevent costly treatments later. If you have chronic symptoms such as coughing, don't hesitate to find out the cause by scheduling an appointment with your doctor.
If you have health insurance:
- Know your coverage and become familiar with
your co-payments, deductibles and when to get a referral for services.
- If shopping for supplemental policies, only
insure against risks you can't afford to cover. Don't buy more insurance
than you need.
- Maximize your benefits by taking advantage of
preventive care benefits such as annual checkups, examinations, and
immunizations for you and your children.
- Review your policies to make sure you receive maximum coverage for the medical services you need.
When buying prescriptions:
- Save money on prescriptions drugs by requesting
a generic brand that is a true equivalent if one exists. Your insurance
company may offer a discounted service on mail order prescriptions, too.
- Pharmacies may charge very different prices for
the same medicine, so shop around for the lowest price.
- Look into buying discount prescription drugs
and contact lenses through reputable national wholesalers by calling
their toll-free numbers.
- Don't fall prey to drug-company advertising. Ask your doctor if you really need that new drug.
If you don't have insurance, look to your community and state resources:
- Contact your county or state health and human
services departments to see what programs can help pay for healthcare.
- Explore what health or subsidy services may be
offered through a religious organization.
- Use free clinics and research services offered
by the local health department or nearby medical school.
- Find out if your local grocery or drug store sponsors free or discounted flu shots and health screenings.
A healthy body is a lot less expensive to maintain. As the old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure." You have only one body, so treat it well!
