With healthcare costs rising we thought it only fitting to talk about frugal ways to approach caring for yourself. We cover healthcare sharing, HSAs, ways to maintain health, acupuncture, glasses/contacts, teeth cleanings and more! We know it’s a frustrating and sometimes boring topic but we promise to bring some lighthearted humor and invaluable tips for this necessary issue.
Sponsors
- podcastcrafter.com – incredible podcast production services – check ’em out!
- beans and rice – the frugal dinner
Notable Notes
- What the internet has to say:
- This article from Mila at The Balance shares 10 ways to minimize costs on health care and insurance. Mila gives helpful information on the different nuances of various health insurance plans and some pitfalls to watch out for. While mainly talking health insurance, there are some great tips regarding billing and finding discounted services.
- What Jen and Jill have to say:
- We agree with tip #3 about being aware of balance billing; this is a real thing! Doctors offices may try to bill you for the balance not paid by insurance, but you do not always need to pay this
- We like tip #4 about finding alternative insurance. Some options include: Farm Bureau Financial Services, Medi-Share
- We do recommend looking into getting a health insurance broker, sometimes this can save big money and YOU don’t pay for the brokers services
- #10 is the tried and true frugal method; shop around and compare costs for specific procedures
- This article by Wendy at WebMD 5 ways to save on medical costs. There are obvious tips like talking to your doctor, but there are also some suggestions we have not considered for saving on medications!
- What Jen and Jill have to say:
- We like tip #5 about pill splitting – it’s possible to decrease the cost of prescription medications if certain milligram amounts are cheaper. Meaning pay less for the 30mg pill and split in half if your prescribed dosage is 15mg. Worth looking into!!
BILL OF THE WEEK- If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to call our Google Voicemail. Or email us a voice memo to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com
Our Experience:
- Jen
- Preventative care that will actually save you money isn’t screenings. Check out this NY times article for more.
- Consider contributing to HSA’s to offset the downfall of Medicare; this article gives a great explanation on HSAs
- Utilize Groupon for teeth cleanings,
- Mystery shop for teeth cleaning and eye exams through A Closer Look.
- Shop for contacts through Ebates
- Acupuncture for preventative care; check out this article from the Penny Hoarder regarding the benefits!
- Jill
- Know what’s an ‘emergency’ and what super glue can fix! For instance, my pinky tragedy while doing the dishes!
BEFORE
AFTER – super glue for the win!
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- Preventative care – drink apple cider vinegar everyday! Thanks Linda Sirianni for this tip!
- Check out local dental schools for discounted teeth cleanings
- Mental health – check for free support groups in your area as well as therapists that will bill you on a sliding scale if your insurance won’t cover. Here’s a great article with tips and resources on affordable mental health care