Convenient Ways to Save Money on Healthcare

To call healthcare costs in the U.S. excessive would be an understatement. Although the Affordable Care Act passage has made it easier for millions of Americans to find agreeably-priced insurance, a sizable percentage of the country remains uninsured and underinsured. Needless to say, if you fit into either of these categories, contending with rising healthcare costs is liable to seem like an uphill battle. Fortunately, keeping these costs under control and receiving the treatment you need for manageable prices is much easier than you may think.

Apply for Medicaid 

If you’re unfamiliar, Medicaid is the United States’ public health insurance program for low-income individuals. Although Medicaid eligibility is generally characterized by extreme poverty, this may not be the case in your state of residence. While it’s true that eligibility requirements vary from state to state, state and local governments consider several factors when determining individual approval. Monthly income, monthly expenses, and family size are just a few of the things that will determine your level of eligibility for Medicaid. 

While Medicaid may not be perfect, it does cover a wide array of medical expenses and pay for an extensive range of prescription medications. There are even some urgent care in Augusta that accept Medicaid. So, if you’re found to qualify for Medicaid in your state, you’d do well to enroll in it. Even in 2021, there’s a troubling stigma against people benefitting from federally funded programs for which they qualify. So, if you’re hesitant to enroll in Medicaid despite meeting your state’s criteria for qualification, remember that programs like this exist to help people – and there’s no reason you should be ashamed of being supported by them.  

Visit the Healthcare Marketplace 

If you’re in the market for affordable insurance coverage, pay a visit to the Healthcare Marketplace at Healthcare.gov. After providing some essential criteria, you’ll be presented with several plans that correspond to your income level. Considering how closely Healthcare.gov is tied to the Affordable Care Act, every American dependent on health insurance should be familiar with this website. Whether you’ve never purchased health insurance or are simply on the lookout for a better plan, there’s a good chance the Healthcare Marketplace has precisely what you’re looking for. You may also discover that a small group health insurance plan is best suited to your needs.  

Haggle with Your Healthcare Provider 

Although many of us associate the term “haggling” with rummage sales and car-buying, it can also be applied to situations involving medical expenses. In many cases, healthcare providers have a challenging time explaining and justifying certain costs – and when pressed to do so, they’ll often give patients steep discounts or waive certain charges entirely. As such, make sure to look over any medical bills you receive carefully, and should you come across any expenses that strike you as odd, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider. 

Enquire About Financial Aid Programs 

Unbeknownst to many healthcare seekers, a significant number of hospitals and medical facilities provide financial aid programs to uninsured and underinsured patients. However, the catch is that most of these facilities don’t openly advertise such programs, and it’s incumbent upon patients to take the initiative in learning about them. So, if you’re curious as to whether a particular hospital system offers these programs, get in touch with their financial aid department and make your insurance and economic status is known. 

The exact terms of these programs vary, but qualified applicants often receive steeply discounted or outright free healthcare from specific hospital systems. As a bonus, many of these programs work retroactively, enabling patients to apply them to outstanding medical bills.  

It’s easy to see why so many of us experience frustration with the U.S.’s profit-driven healthcare model. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a horror story about unreasonable healthcare costs. While various improvements have been made since the Affordable Care Act, our healthcare system still has substantial room for improvement. Luckily, there are numerous ways to make personal healthcare costs more manageable – provided, of course, you know what you’re doing. If ridiculously high healthcare costs have proven to be a consistent thorn in your side, put the pointers discussed above to good use. 

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