Money and Your Health
June 23, 2009
Being healthy isn’t just a matter of feeling good and living longer, it can have a big impact on your wallet as well. I’ve made some poor decisions about my health over the last few years and it ended up costing me a big chunk of change and time off work.
I was lucky compared to many people, the cost of a major health issue is all it takes to financiallly devastate some U.S. families. During his March healthcare summit, President Obama referenced statistics that the cost of health care now causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds and by the end of 2009, could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes.
Some medical conditions we have no control over but there are definitely ways we can help reduce our risks and control our health care costs, here are a few:
Take off the weight: While dealing first with the numbers on your bathroom scale will have immediate health benefits, it will also make your health insurance options and potential out-of-pocket costs more affordable over time. A recent Stanford University and Rand Corporation study reported that lifetime medical costs related to diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension and stroke among the obese are $10,000 higher than among the non-obese. It added that lifetime medical costs could be reduced by $2,200 to $5,300 following a 10 percent reduction in body weight.
Grill your agent or HR person: Whether you buy health insurance through an agent or your employer, insist that they explain exactly what you’re getting for your premium, and where deductibles do and don’t apply. If you’re purchasing your own insurance policy, compare the premium savings from a higher deductible plan with your usage pattern of health services. What you save can often cover your high deductible.
Weigh life insurance options while you’re healthy: Make sure you’re carrying the right amount of life insurance to support your family and other heirs as well as cover any remaining medical bills that might remain after you die.
Discuss potential cost of any diagnosis: If your physician diagnoses a particular illness that requires tests, prescription drugs, a hospital stay or ongoing therapy, be very blunt about what you’ll be charged, from the doctor’s bills to ongoing ancillary costs associated with treatment. Ask the doctor or his office manager to possibly negotiate a discounted fee for service. It’s possible to get discounts through cash payments as well.
Ask for generics and samples: Many physicians are willing to recommend a generic substitute or at least supply you with a few samples of the drug they’re already prescribing. While doctors can’t get away with passing sample drugs to all their patients, always ask. As long as they are prescribing the medication, samples with the proper dosage can provide cost savings to patients.
Check local pricing resources: In non-emergency situations, you should always compare prices on treatments. Check with local medical boards and state health officials to see if they have online databases on costs for various medical procedures. Also, if there is a support group for your condition, talk to members about what they paid locally for care.
Investigate long-term care: If you or a family member is diagnosed with a chronic illness, that’s a financial issue that requires a plan. As tough as it may be to focus on money issues at a stressful time, make an appointment with a tax professional or planner to discuss affordability options that will safeguard your assets.
Begin negotiations before there’s a problem: The best time to speak with hospital bean counters isn’t when you’re behind on your payments. Once a diagnosis is made, either you or someone you designate as your agent needs to contact the hospital business office to check on payment schedules and possible discount plans if you are uninsured or fear your insurance may not cover a significant portion of costs. Any creditor appreciates a customer who’s willing to come to the table first.
This post about money and your health is produced in association with the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the leadership and advocacy organization connecting those who provide, support and benefit from professional financial planning.
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