Health & Medical – Money Saving Tips

Health & Medical Money Saving Tips & Ideas!

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This Health and Medical Money Saving Tips Page contains ways to trim costs while working to live healthier.

Medical Saving Tips with Emergency Room Visits

If you must go to the emergency room, get the name of the nurse who treats you in case you have questions after leaving.

It will be more convenient to speak with her directly on the phone rather than trying to get a hold of the doctor (even at 3 AM). Jennifer Dahl – Bayard, IA

Hospital Emergency room sign.

Gym Memberships at Your Local College

A Fitness Center sign at a community college.

Instead of expensive YMCA or private gym memberships check out the prices of joining the gym or pool at your local college or university. We found the pool and gym membership at a local college to be almost half of the Y. With the money, we save we can easily afford the extra non-member fee we pay for our kids to play in the Y sports leagues, and we still come out money ahead. Michelle S. – Lincoln, NE 

YMCA Savings

I work part-time at a YMCA that offers memberships on the ability to pay and even offer scholarships for members who have lost their job and the community at large who cannot afford to pay for youth camps and programs. A fundraiser is conducted every year called the Strong Kids Campaign wherein local businesses, as well as 100% of the staff at the YMCA, donate money in order to make these scholarships available.

Coaches for after-school and summer league sports programs are all volunteers. Also, you can inquire about the Try It Free offer. Active Military families are given a substantial discount. They also have what is called Child Watch (1 hour free to members) while Mom or Dad are attending classes or using the fitness center. If you enjoy fitness and would like to teach classes many certifications are given at no cost to you. If you become an instructor, you receive a very good discount on your family membership Rachel S. – Chicago, Il

Walking and Hiking for Free

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”…To keep those nasty medical bills at bay, get into shape. You don’t need to join an expensive health club either. Grab a partner (or go solo) and get outside for a walk. You can purchase an inexpensive pair of hand weights (don’t use weights on your ankles… too much stress on the knees!). For added cardiovascular and calorie-burning benefit. Try and work up to about an hour… great fat-burning!

Start moderately, drink water before you go (unless you don’t mind carrying a water bottle), and don’t forget that sunscreen! In the summer, beat the heat by going early… it’s gorgeous out in the early morning. Or go after the sun goes down. There are malls that open their doors early for walkers. Mix up your walk by doing some easy/moderate hikes or by finding pleasant neighborhood surroundings.  Teri Chadwick – Scottsdale, AZ


RELATED ARTICLE: Brown’s Gas – Hydroxy – Health Hoax or Truth


FitBit Fitness Trackers

We absolutely love our Fitbits!. These simple little fitness trackers are motivating us to walk and exercise more than we ever have!

And if you have friends who also use a Fitbit, you can add them to a friend list and have a little fitness challenge with them. Everyone becomes more motivated to exercise!

One fee upfront for the device, and years of better fitness. This company has great customer service as well!


Senior Discounts at the Doctor’s Office

Once you reach the best years of your life, 55 or older, make sure that you ask for a “senior discount” everywhere you go. I just saved $50 off of a bill at the doctor’s office, just because I asked. It wasn’t an advertised or posted policy. I asked, and they discounted me! It doesn’t get much better than this! Angela Guastella – Chester, VA


Checking Medical Bills for Mistakes

Always double and triple-check your bills and the Insurance EOBs (Explanation of Benefits) statements when you receive medical care.

My family is very healthy and we do not use our medical coverage very often; even so, I have found mistakes and been able to reduce my out-of-pocket expense several times just by being vigilant. It’s not that the doctors or insurance companies are evil and want to scam you out of your money, it’s just a very complex business and humans do make mistakes.

Check your bill to make sure that all the services and medications listed were actually received. And if you are denied coverage for something that you think should be covered, call and talk to the insurance company. Don’t accept the first answer you get either. Be nice and polite — I have found that the phrase “Can you please explain to me why this isn’t covered,” works well.

After all this, if you still owe more than you can afford, don’t be afraid to negotiate with the provider for a payment plan and possibly a reduction of fees. They are glad to get something rather than nothing. Mary Oglesby – USA

For another great resource about negotiating medical bills and understanding your medical insurance, check out our audio download Money Smart Health & Medical Benefits!

Childhood Cancer Center – “Hospital Camping”

A child in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask on his face.

As a former Childhood Cancer family—Thank God remission continues to hold—but… we are oh sooooo very BROKE! Here are some things we did to save money while our daughter was hospitalized.

Saving on food 

Meals for parents and family members visiting the hospital get really expensive with 3 meals and snacks each day.
One way we found to get around some of that expense is to bring in 2 totes with lids (cold and dry storage) and a bag of ice and use them to store food in our child’s room.
If you include your beverage of choice (off-brand pop, Gatorade, juice, etc) cold cereal,
popcorn (microwave at nurses station) bread and sandwich makings, yogurt, etc. you can really save on food.
We also brought our favorite flavored creamer and kept it on ice and our own thermos to drink plain Jane coffee rather than hit the espresso stands.

Planning and packing ahead can offset a lot of spending!

Saving on Band-aids

My daughter wanted the same fun band-aids they had at the hospital, at home. They were really expensive, so I bought plain, inexpensive band-aids. Next, I purchased some fun and colorful stickers at the Dollar Store to stick on top of plain band-aids. I just used scotch tape to hold them in place. These homemade fancy band-aids were fun for her and protected just as well after my daughter was poked or had things to keep covered.

If you’re dealing with long-term hospital stays and medical issues, you basically have to think Camping Mode. Our budget didn’t have room for fun, just frugal functionality.


Smart Help Negotiating Medical Bills

A stethoscope sitting on money.

According to a Harvard University study, medical bills are responsible for more than half of all bankruptcies in America. Routine medical procedures can create huge bills if things go wrong and extended hospital stays are involved. Even if nothing goes wrong with a procedure, unexpected bills can send you spiraling financially.

You know you should scrutinize the bills, but what if you don’t know all of the questions to ask. What if, in spite of your good planning, you still end up with a spine-tingling bill? What should you do when facing expensive medical procedures? To answer these questions, we drew on our experiences and those of people who wrestle with medical bills daily.

An Interview with the Director for Billing Advocates

MoneySmartFamily talked extensively with Nora Johnson, director of education and compliance for Medical Billing Advocates of America (MBAA) and president of Med-X a medical advocate company.

MBAA organizes, supports and trains consumer-focused medical advocates. Their consultants are independent contractors, located nationwide, who specialize in helping consumers fight and often win battles over improper medical bills or denied insurance claims. We also spoke with Maura Carley, the president of Healthcare Navigation, LLC, which focuses on dealing with insurance companies and claims involving them.

 Getting Help with Medical Bills 

Sources we discovered during our research:

More Resources for your Medical Money Saving Tips Research

Medical Billing Errors Good Morning America Video

News Articles: Oregonian Newspaper PodCast

Blog: NerdWallet 07.21.2014


Antiseptic Homemade Hand Wipes

I have found a good way to save on all those anti-bacterial wipes.  I use an empty container and cut up paper towels, usually in four pieces, then roll them up, stuff them in, and pour rubbing alcohol over them so they are wet.  Alcohol is a great anti-bacterial and you can find it for $ 0.50 – 1.00 a bottle.  Great when you need to wash your hands.  I use them a lot in the car.
Barbara D. — Hillside, IL

Save on Prescription Co-Pays

If you have prescription coverage with a co-pay as part of your health insurance, ask your doctor to write your prescription for a three-month supply. Sometimes you can just ask the pharmacist for a three-month supply also. If you make the purchase this way, you’ll only pay one co-pay rather than three at the pharmacy. Fran Ferguson – Scottsdale, AZ

Thoughts from a  Pharmacist

I am halfway through your book and I am really enjoying it. Your chapter on healthcare was terrific and since I am a healthcare professional I have to say I can relate to a lot of what you talk about.  I am not trying to be some sort of know it all but I did notice a few things in this chapter I would like to comment on.

90-day prescriptions are definitely a great way to save money but the doctor does have to approve this.  For example, if John Doe’s script is written for 30 and he wants a 90 day supply the pharmacist or patient actually has to call the doctor to get this done.

Antibiotics

The only other thing I wanted to add was to your section on antibiotics. In addition to all the reasons you gave for not taking them, another great reason is the development of resistance.

For example, if Jane Doe is taking an antibiotic she doesn’t need she cannot only develop a resistance to this antibiotic but also the people around her breathing in the same air can develop a resistance.  This is why many antibiotics eventually do not work as well because the bugs can no longer be contained because they have seen enough of the medicine to know how to stay alive. Thanks again for writing “America’s Cheapest Family” I am definitely a fan. Kyle Gardner


Save with the National Drug Card

National Drug Card – This discount drug program has been in existence since 2004. If you have no insurance, high deductible insurance or are on Medicare, this card can save you money. It’s good for human prescriptions and they also have a discount card for pet medications.

National Drug Card Sign Up Page.

When you click on the link above you can create your account and print out your National Drug Card. They also have a video that describes the program and how to get the most savings.

Pill Splitter- Medical Tip Money Saving Idea

A blue pill splitter with a green pill in it.

To save on prescriptions, have your doctor write the prescription for double the dosage and then split the pill in half with a Pill Splitter. For example, my husband takes Lipitor 40 mg. I called the doctor’s office and told them I was wanting to save money by getting his dosage for Lipitor at 80 mg. and then splitting the pill since the 80 mg was about the same price as the 40mg.

This is saving us about $900.00 per year. Now that Lipitor has gone generic the savings aren’t as great but this idea can still work with other solid pill medications. Not all medication can be split in half, but if you are taking an expensive medication, check with your doctor to see if this will work for you.  Patricia Bucy – Lizton, IN


Generic Dosage Saves Money with Prescriptions

A pink pill next to a generic, smaller pill.

I take several prescription drugs, and one of them just became generic. When I had my prescription refilled I asked my pharmacist why it was filled with the brand name drug instead of the generic. He told me that the dosage of the drug I take did not become generic. I take 145 mg and the generic dosage that was closest was 134 mg. I asked my doctor if I could change over and he didn’t think that an 11 mg decrease would hurt me in any way.

Moral of the story: find out if your name-brand drug is available as a generic in different strengths. This change in dosage saves me $30 each month / $360 per year! Jenny Lawson – USA


Gift Card Money From Grocery Store Pharmacies

Many Times there is a big competition among local pharmacies to get your business. They drop coupons where you can receive $25 to $30 gift certificates for each new or transferred prescription. These coupons are distributed periodically and don’t expire for several months.

So I stock up on them when the flyers do come out. So far I’ve received; $100 in CVS pharmacy gift cards that I am using to purchase my Christmas gifts, $30 at Basha’s Grocery Store (where I purchased the supplies for my Thanksgiving dinner) and $60 in Shell Gasoline gift cards from Safeway, that I am saving for my Christmas travel. If you don’t see the coupons, ask the manager if they have any copies. Mary Nippert – Chandler, AZ


Doctor Office Help with Prescriptions

Yes, prescriptions are extremely expensive! With more people having to pay more out of pocket, more drug manufacturers are doing patient assistant programs for medicines that are taken on a regular basis. If you don’t have insurance or qualify for Medicaid this is especially helpful.

Ask your doctors office if they know, and will do, the paperwork needed for your medicine. You can even find it online for the doctor’s office and then they will fill it out for you. I get three medications this way. One is $1000 each month and I only pay $20.
 Sherlyn Buffington – Farmington NM


Patient Assistant Programs for Prescriptions

I’m on a maintenance drug for a seizure disorder. The drug that works best has no generic available and was costing me $117 a month at Walmart – an annual cost of $1404. I was tired of paying that much, so I spent three hours doing some homework which eventually led me to my insurance company’s pharmacy – Blue Cross / Blue Shield for Federal Employees (BCBSFEP).

Now, my medication costs me $35 for a three-month supply – a total savings of $1204 each year! I “earned” $400 an hour for the three hours spent researching my options. I’d say that’s a good investment! Michele – Florida


Testing a Small Amount of a Prescription Medication First

Pharmacies always fill a prescription the way the physician ordered it, such as a 3 week, one month or 3 month supply. But, if you are trying a new prescription, ask the pharmacy to give you just a one or two days supply. That way if you have a bad reaction with the medication (as my brother did after 3 days on a Statin drug for high cholesterol) you have not spent the money on an entire prescription only to have to dispose of it.

Here’s another money saver: my brother brought his cholesterol down by drastically changing his diet. He improved his health and completely avoided the high cost of drugs. Pam M. – Florissant, MO

 Medical Insurance When You are Self Employed

An outdoor sign for Health Care Coverage.

Question: I understand that you are self-employed. What do you do for health insurance, dental insurance, and prescription drug coverage?

Answer: We cringe when we write the monthly checks. Unfortunately, health insurance is a must — it is expensive but oh, so necessary. Here’s what we do:

Health Insurance: We buy a higher deductible policy that covers major medical expenses. About every two years we go to eHealthInsurance.com and get quotes from other providers. Research is the key here. For any expenses not covered by our insurance, we negotiate with our doctors to accept a reduced fee as if insurance was paying it.

Pre-Existing Conditions: The state of Arizona has provided an option for small businesses (and self-employed) called the Healthcare Group of Arizona. It is more expensive than individual coverage, but it is a group policy and is mandated to accept all who apply. If you have a pre-existing condition that precludes you from getting individual coverage, this is the ticket for you. Your pre-existing condition is subject to an exclusionary period, but you will eventually be covered.

In other states contact your state department of insurance (this page has links for every state) and see what they can do to help you.

Dental Care: 

We just bite the bullet on this one. We’ve carefully researched a dentist and found one who gives us a discount when we pay at the time of service. There are discount dental plans (not insurance) available, but you’ve got to research the quality of the dental care you will receive. Visit DentalPlans.com.

Prescriptions: We’ve learned to ask our doctor not to prescribe the newest drug brought to him by a pharmaceutical salesperson. We ask for drugs that are also available as generics and we always ask for samples from our doctor.

Stay Healthy: We read lots of books and research any new conditions so that we can participate with our doctor for a cure. We believe that nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are critical to minimizing medical expenses. Our go-to book for any health questions we have is The Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch. We have put this and many other favorite books in our website bookstore—healthy living section.


Dental Care Through Dental Colleges

With our recent move, we no longer have dental insurance covered by an employer. So we checked out a local college that offers a dental hygienist program. We got all our routine cleanings, X-rays, and fluoride treatments done by second-year students, under the close supervision of their instructors, for a fraction of the price of seeing a dentist (2 adults and 2 children for $78.00).

They were able to schedule all of us during the same time slot which helped offset the extra time it takes to have this work done by a student. If we had gone to a dental office, they would have done only one or maybe two of us at a time. If you have more time than money, it’s a great way to save on dental care. Oh, and I have never had such a thorough dental check-up!  Becky Klingbeil – Chesterton, IN


A Dental Mouth Guard from the Sporting Goods Store

A red football mouth guard from a sporting goods store.

The dentist recently recommended that I replace the bite guard/mouth guard that I wear at night. I have had it for ten years, and it is not working anymore. The insurance company said that it is a once-in-a-lifetime expense. The dentist even tried to appeal that the mouth guard was truly not functioning because I bit through it. However, the insurance would not offer any assistance. The cost of replacing the custom bite guard was more than $500

I decided to try something before spending that money. So I got a sports mouth guard for $0.96 (new). Then I followed the instructions for fitting it into my mouth. I made some adjustments to make it smaller for night use and it works perfectly. This one thing saved me lots of money and it can be easily replaced when it wears out.   Cara Ehinger – Ann Arbor, MI 

Editors’ Note: Cara, way to go! We’ve done the same thing for Steve and our daughter Becky. Both of them tend to grind their teeth at night. So we bought the boil and fit mouth guards and trimmed them using sharp scissors and then smoothed them down using a Dremel tool. They’ve lasted for years and were really affordable! 


Medical Money Saving Tips with Discount Dental Deals

Close up of woman smiling with white teeth.

A website subscriber told us about this dental deal — we’ve checked it out and it’s good.

SMILING AT THE DENTIST
I was blessed with my father’s easy going personality, wittiness and his less than perfect teeth. On a recent trip to the dentist, I was advised that I would need two crowns, not to mention a small cavity that needed to be filled. I asked for the price of one crown and they said it would cost me $1364 ($2728 for two of them). Yikes, so much for our Disneyland trip. My husband has a great job but no dental insurance.

A few weeks earlier, I had seen a dental plan online with my dentist’s name on it. The receptionist confirmed that they did accept this plan, which is a discount plan, not insurance. She informed me that if I signed up for the plan (Aetna Dental Access) that same $1364 crown would cost me only $691. The same service for almost half the price!

Signing up for the dental plan

I went home and signed up for the discount plan at www.DentalPlans.com Affordable Dental Care  (they had several plans to choose from).

It cost less than $90 for one year. I can now get two crowns for the price of one, and the filling which would have cost me $159 is now only $76. It certainly pays to investigate and be an advocate for yourself. These plans are available in most states. Even if you have dental insurance, you can benefit from these discount programs. Keep Smiling, I know I am.
Cheryl O. – Andover, MA

 Researching a Dental Plan

1) Many new dentists use dental plans to help build their practices. They “recruit” patients and hope that they become regular paying customers. Most of these dentists are well trained, but some may be inexperienced — you need to research any treatment plan your dentist recommends.

2) Some older dentists still use dental plans to bring in new patients because they can’t keep their old customers. If a dentist has been practicing for several years and is still on a dental plan, proceed with caution.

3) Pricing: While a specific dental plan may quote prices, confirm with your dentist what your exact price will be BEFORE you start any procedure.

Click here to research dental plans in your area

Save from 10 - 60% on all dental care!


Being Careful with Your Eyeglasses When You are Traveling

If you or any member of your family wear glasses, make it a family rule – never, never, even for a moment, put your glasses down where anyone would sit, stand or lie down. This is especially important when you are in unfamiliar surroundings. Just think what a nuisance it would be to try to replace lenses or frames while away from home. Jean Fountain – Iowa City, IA

Buying Eyeglass Frames Off of Ebay

When it is time to get new prescription glasses, I buy the frames on eBay for a few dollars and have my optometrist put in the new lenses. It usually saves the two of us $200 to 300 each year. The size of the frame is inside one of the arms and I just order about the same size and shape each year. I got fake Cartier frames last time and no one noticed.

This time I bought glasses with magnetic sunglasses included. These usually cost $300 for one frame. I got five frames for $15. Two turned out to be kids sizes, which I gave to the family who lives upstairs, one was a really weird style, but the last two worked fine. At these prices, you can always try them on at home and re-list them on eBay if you don’t use them. Jan Parker – USA


Hydrogen Peroxide Benefits for Medical Usage

A Hydrogen Peroxide bottle with two bandaids crossed on the label.

The wife of a doctor we know shared many benefits of using hydrogen peroxide instead of using bleach for cleaning. Her husband has been a medical doctor for more than 30 years. They believe hydrogen peroxide is safer and has more benefits for our health than bleach.

What is Chlorine Bleach

Household bleach is made from three ingredients: chlorine, caustic soda, and water. An electrical current is applied to a sodium chloride solution (salt water) which produces chlorine and caustic soda – the process is called electrolysis. Today this process is also used for producing chlorine from salt in salt-water swimming pools.

The dangers of bleach: Breathing in chlorine gas can be deadly. And mixing household bleach with ammonia can also be deadly – it produces ammonium chloride.

The benefits of bleach: bleach is definitely a disinfectant which is able to kill most germs, but it is also caustic and can be dangerous to your skin, lungs, and eyes. It is used in laundry to whiten clothes and in kitchens to disinfect surfaces. However, we think hydrogen peroxide is a good and safer alternative, in many cases, to the use of bleach.

What is Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is simply water with an extra molecule of oxygen (H2 O2) and when it breaks down it is simply oxygen and water. H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) is produced by both animal and plant cells and is actually formed in the environment by sunlight acting on water. In its 3 percent form, which can be purchased from grocery stores and drug stores, it is a safe and effective anti-bacterial agent.

Editors’ Note Regarding Peroxide: 

Tips similar to these have been circulated on the Internet for years. We checked each tip out with TruthOrFiction.com and with our own experience. We’ve included the ones that we have either tested or have found to be true. As with any frugal tip, do your own research and proceed with caution. Damaging your health is not worth trying to save 50 cents. Read more here

Athletes Foot: Some people swear that hydrogen peroxide can kill fungus on feet and toenails. We’ve tried the 3 percent solution and not seen any results. Our friend who is a doctor’s wife swears by doing this: She sprays a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on her feet, especially her toes every night, and lets it dry – this has eliminated her athletes’ foot problem.

Antiseptic for Wounds or Infections: Soak any infections or cuts in 3 percent hydrogen peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day.

More Peroxide Uses

In Your Nose?: When you have a cold, spraying a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water into your nose will kill bacterial and help to clear your sinus. Let it sit in your nostrils for a few minutes, then blow your nose into a tissue.

Temporary Relief for a Toothache: When you have a toothache and can’t get to your dentist immediately, try rinsing your mouth several times each day. Using a capful of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide for several minutes could lessen the pain.

For Boils and Fungus: Put half a bottle of peroxide (3 percent) into a bathtub full of water and soak your body. This can help to get rid of boils, fungus and other skin infections.


There are many ways to greatly reduce the cost of prescription drugs, hospital care and saving on over-the-counter healthcare solutions. Please be careful in your pursuit of saving money on medical care. Make sure you always check with a knowledgeable healthcare professional. Please don’t compromise your health to save a few dollars.


For more ideas to save by reading healthy Living Books, click here.

If you have another idea on ways to trim medical expenses, please leave it in the comments below and we’ll research it and consider it for posting.

7 thoughts on “Health & Medical – Money Saving Tips

  1. Dolores Hayney

    If a husband or wife was in the military, make sure they look into signing up for VA health care. There are many benefits. You pay by your income. Sometimes there is no co pay for check ups etc if you are low income. Also you can get an eye exam and free glasses if needed. Also they will mail you eye vitamins if needed and they are way under the cost of the regular retail store and they come in the mail. Free hearing aids and free batteries. Lots of folks don’t know about this. You can always still go to your regular doctor and also use your health insurance for the outside of the VA medical facilities. You just have two places to get good medical care. Only the VET can take advantage of the VA unless the VET retired after many years of service and then some of the VA plans cover their family. Go to your VA service office and ask what you are entitled to.

    1. steveecon

      Dolores – Great advice – thanks for sharing it. It looks like the VA is being more responsive to Vet’s needs these days. We still strongly encourage people that when dealing with medical professionals to do your own research and strongly advocate for yourself. Don’t just expect them to do what’s best for you all the time. Doctors other medical professionals are human … sometimes they make mistakes. Sometimes they prescribe medications that they’ve recently learned about from a drug rep. Sometimes they misdiagnose. Many times they are right, but the patients who recover fastest are the ones who take an active part in their diagnosis and recovery.

  2. Belinda

    Please note that though generic drugs are touted as equal to the brand names of the same drugs, the FDA allows the generics to be 20% more or less effective than the name brand. (this was confirmed by my pharmacist and our neurologist) Also the other ingredients can be different than the name brand as long as the main ingredient is equal. In my husbands case, he was being treated for seizures and the name brand did not effect his blood sugar but the generic shot the blood sugar up sky high. Ronnie is type 1 diabetic and this effect was disastrous for him. Also, with a 40% spread in effectiveness, if the drug insurance decided to switch to another generic with the exact opposite in effectiveness, a seizure patient could be thrown into seizures (my husband was). Be sure and investigate the generic you are given and make sure that if it is changed, you research to see how the new generic varies from the previous generic. Just sayin, you have to advocate for yourself and realize that the pharmacy and drug insurance company doesn’t always look out for you. Our Neurologist specifies and argues with the drug insurance if they try to insist that my husband must take generic seizure medicine. I sure wish he could take generics in it because his seizure medicine is very very expensive.

    1. Steve Economides

      Wow! Belinda, thanks for sharing your story. You are so right – everyone’s body will respond differently to the drugs they take. Being aware of your husband’s sensitivity saved his life. Great info.

  3. Carolyn Munroe

    If you are experiencing a particular illness, check on line and with your paper for local, state and national support groups. You will be able to find methods to help you cope and in some cases, ways to get your medication at a discount.

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