Saving Money On Healthcare When You're Not Insured

The cost of healthcare in the US has been a huge topic of financial and political debate for decades, and this isn’t expected to change any time soon! Although the national healthcare system is expanding, countless Americans still get by without health insurance, and bear the brunt of the costs. Seen as you’re reading this, you probably know just how expensive healthcare can be. Here, I’ve listed a few helpful tips for taking care of yourself without insurance.

First of all, consider taking advantage of walk-in clinics and online prescription services. In all likelihood, when you’re suffering from a bad cold, or you need to top-up on contraceptive pills, you don’t need to go to your doctor and certainly not a hospital. Walk-in clinics tend to be significantly cheaper, and will accommodate for your needs when it comes to minor health problems. Wal-Mart even runs their own care clinics, so you can pop in to ask about a problem you’re having while you’re shopping for groceries! Various chain drugstores also have their own clinics, but may not measure up to Wal-Mart’s low, low prices! Aside from that, we’re living in a digital age, and there are various online services which give you access to prescription drugs without insurance.

Another, increasingly popular way of getting the care you need without insurance is medical tourism. This term might set off alarm bells in your head, and that’s totally understandable. In the past, there was a very serious risk in going abroad to get surgery or another, minor treatment. However, with the internet being more accessible than ever before, it’s now much easier for people to research their options, and make sure they’re not running into anything dangerous before they hop on a plane! There are many places in the world where you can get high-quality medical treatment for a fraction of the price you’d have to pay in the States. Before you become set on the idea of traveling abroad for medical treatment, make sure you’ve asked your doctor about all the risks involved, done your own research, and that you’re in a good state to make the trip.

Next, make sure you’re checking all your bills, whenever they come through. It’s pretty common for people to trust doctors and everything about the medical sector. After all, they are doctors. However, it’s a big mistake to open a medical bill and immediately assume that it’s going to be 100% accurate. Many hospital bills have glaring errors in them, and a massive number of people manage to overlook these. Some of the mistakes aren’t all that significant. However, when you’re trying to save money, every penny matters, so get into the habit of going through your bill line by line. If you find that there’s an issue with your bill, be sure to take it up with the hospital or clinic’s accounting department. Medical organizations are very frantic working environments, and you may get passed around or forgotten. However, if you’re sure you’ve been falsely charged, always chase it up!