5 Tips to Afford Healthcare in the United States Even When You Have Insurance

Beth Rush

---

The United States is the global leader in many industries, but healthcare is not one of them. Almost one in five Americans can’t afford the care they need, forcing them to cut back on other essential expenses like food, utilities, and education. Even some people with health insurance coverage can’t afford the expensive price tag of actually receiving care.

Nobody should have to choose between their wallet and their health, especially in the late stages of a pandemic. Here are five tips on how to afford health insurance in the U.S. to get all the treatment you need.

1. Plan Ahead

“Nobody knows for sure when they’ll need healthcare insurance, but you can still do some basic planning.”

First, you need to know the difference between emergency care and urgent care. Many people conflate the two types of treatment and end up paying hundreds of dollars more on obscure hospital charges. Here’s the basic difference between them:

• Emergency care: This care only applies to people whose lives are in immediate danger. Heart attacks and severe blunt-force trauma are two examples of legitimate life-threatening emergencies.
• Urgent care: Urgent care is one step lower. It includes people suffering from injuries or ailments that aren’t lethal but still require timely treatment. Bone fractures, stomach infections, and other similar health problems fall into this category.

Emergency departments at American hospitals have charged patients for just about anything in the past. In fact, about 80% of medical bills have errors. These errors can be devastating for people with health insurance because they might cause the provider to reject the claim.

You don’t want to risk facing a four- or five-digit bill. If the illness or injury isn’t immediately life-threatening, go to your trusted doctor’s urgent care center instead to save yourself time and money.

You can also plan ahead for future medical expenses by knowing your family’s health history. For example, your father’s side might have a propensity for diabetes. Knowing this fact, you should take extra precautions to prevent those problems. Pay close attention to your blood sugar and insulin levels. Start a walking routine to maintain your cardiovascular health.

Americans today are more focused on reactive treatment than proactive habits. Opioids and vaccines might work just fine, but none of them can replace healthy lifestyle choices. If you know your family’s health history, you know which problems you’re most at risk for. Take proactive steps to prevent them rather than treating them as foregone conclusions.

2. Save Money on Medicine

If you take medicine for an injury or chronic health problem, you know that drug prices can put a huge dent in your wallet. Prescription drugs cost the average American $1,300 every year – the highest in the world by a wide margin. Here are some ways you can save on your prescription costs:

• Switch to generic medications instead of name-brand drugs. They have the same active ingredients and functions but for a fraction of the price.
• Order medicine through the mail instead of picking it up at the pharmacy.
• Follow the medicine’s directions. Overdosing can lead to harmful side effects or addiction, and underdosing is a waste of money.
• Incorporate natural solutions rather than completely relying on medicine. For example, if the doctor recommends you take a vitamin D supplement for osteoporosis, add more vitamin D-rich foods to your diet instead. Not everything needs a prescription.

Of course, some people have no choice but to overspend on the medicine they need. Insulin is a prime example. The government passed a bill that caps insulin prices at $35, but that still is a heavy price for many low-income patients.

To put into perspective how much a household’s income impacts its ability to afford health insurance, these findings from a Kaiser Family Foundation health debt survey drive the point home:

“Adults in households with annual incomes under $40,000 are more than three times as likely as adults in households with incomes over $90,000 to say it is difficult to afford their health care costs (69% v. 21%) … About half of U.S. adults say that it is very or somewhat difficult for them to afford their health care costs (47%).”

If you are among the low-income families or 47% of adults regularly exceeding your healthcare budget, you might have to cut spending in other areas.

3. Cut Back on Visits

The easiest thing you can cut back on is regular medical visits. Not every injury or illness requires an in-person professional diagnosis. Doctors often perform tests as a precaution rather than a necessity. Consult authoritative online health forums and talk to verified doctors on social media. Discuss treatment options with friends and family who suffer from similar ailments.

Although not every situation calls for a trip to the doctor’s office, it’s still a good idea to schedule annual checkups. If you’ve been visiting the same doctor for a while, see if you can lower your annual check-up rate. Review your past expenses and see if you can cut out any unnecessary tests or procedures.

4. Negotiate for Services and Discounts

Every doctor and healthcare provider charges different rates. If your insurance plan is flexible, you can save hundreds by shopping around and finding the best prices. As previously mentioned, local health clinics are usually much less expensive than a trip to the emergency room.

Once you’re inside the clinic, be prepared to negotiate every step of the way. Passive patients allow doctors to tack on charge after charge. Take control of the situation and clarify the need for each test they perform. If the test isn’t necessary, ask them to skip it.

You might also be able to get special discounts on your insurance plan if you’re elderly, disabled, or a military veteran. Talk to your provider about your eligibility for these discounts. Some insurance companies even offer discounts for people who use fitness trackers. If they see that you’re taking your health seriously, they will be more inclined to accept future claims.

5. Consider Alternatives to Insurance

If you’re struggling to afford your insurance plan, consider applying for alternative plans through other medical organisations. There are cost-sharing programs for low-income communities and short-term plans for people with tight budgets. You can also get a health discount card if you’re willing to pay in cash.

In a perfect world, you can trust your conventional insurance provider, but America’s healthcare industry is far from perfect. You need to have a backup plan in case your policy fails you.

Modern Health Insurance Problems Require Modern Solutions

The United States’ laundry list of healthcare problems requires creative modern solutions. Learning how to afford health insurance in an unstable environment is an ongoing responsibility. Small efforts here and there can add up to big savings at the end of the year. Keep these five points in mind as you navigate the murky waters of American healthcare.

---

Featured image courtesy of Solen Feyissa on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.