Jonah JacobsDitch the Doctor’s Office for the Drugstore
When you get sick, where do you usually go? Provided your illness isn’t some extreme emergency, you probably schedule an appointment with your doctor’s office.
While that can help you feel better, it may not be your best bet anymore. Why? Because drugstores are now opening full-service clinics that provide the same services a doctor’s office can, but at a fraction of the cost.
This is excellent news if you’re tired of paying an arm and a leg every time you have to go to the doctor. According to research, primary care visits have steadily climbed in cost since 2002. To provide an affordable alternative, drugstores like CVS, Walgreens, and even Walmart are opening up low-cost clinics. Here are some of the details:
- CVS – Over 15,000 HealthHUBs expected before 2021 is over.
- Walgreens – Over 700 Village Medical clinics in the next five years.
- Walmart – Clinics slated to open in dozens of states before the year ends.
What can you expect when you visit one of these clinics? Besides the lower costs, you can look forward to the same type of care you’d get in a doctor’s office. That means you can get treated for an illness, get diagnostic tests, etc.
Get Your Meds From Amazon
Imagine saving 80 percent on generic and 40 percent on brand-name prescriptions. If that seems far-fetched, it’s not, as Pharmacy.Amazon.com has launched and is promising such savings.
Amazon Prime members can use the service to find the cheapest meds. Before buying, you can see if you’re better off using insurance or not to get the lowest price. You can also enjoy quick, two-day shipping that’s free, or you can pick up your meds at over 50,000 participating pharmacies.
Comparison Shop Hospitals
This year, a new federal rule went live that makes it easy to reduce your healthcare fees. Under the law, hospitals must let the public know costs that they’ve negotiated with insurance companies. Why is this important? Because it allows you comparison shop for the lowest price before visiting a hospital for a test like an MRI or surgery.
If you’re wondering when this would come into play, think about your health insurance deductible. If it’s high, you’ll have to pay a pretty penny out of pocket until your insurance coverage kicks in. As such, you’ll want to get that test or surgery at the hospital offering the most affordable rate.
To find out what a hospital is charging, go to their website or contact their billing department. By law, they’ll have to disclose that info that you can use to make your decision.
Cut Your Medicare Costs
Do you have a Medicare Advantage plan? If you do, and it covers dental, vision, and hearing, you may want to get it at a lower cost. You can do this by changing your Advantage plan between the annual period of January 1 and March 31.
To get the lowest cost, you may want to give Walmart a look. They recently teamed up with various Medicare Advantage providers to offer very affordable plans, which you can find at WalmartInsurance.com.
