Managing Healthcare Costs

The first visit with a new doctor costs up to 50% more than a return visit. Avoid multiple first-time-visit charges by seeing one PCP who can get to know you personally and help manage your health.

TIP: If you use your free annual physical for your first visit with a new doctor, you can avoid the higher first-visit costs altogether.

The Affordable Care Act requires that medical plans cover 100% of the cost of annual physicals and other age- and gender-appropriate preventive screenings, such as well-child exams, mammograms, colonoscopies and prostate screenings whether or not you’ve met your deductible.

Online consultations with board-certified doctors cost about the same as a PCP office visit without traffic or waiting rooms. Telemedicine is available 24/7 for non-emergent health concerns, including mental health, through your phone, computer or tablet. Contact your insurance carrier to learn about your telemedicine options.

Get X-rays, MRIs, CT scans and other imaging tests at independent facilities. Just as with lab tests, non-hospital-affiliated imaging centers or sports medicine clinics can provide identical services for a fraction of the cost.

TIP: A non-emergency ER visit can cost you hundreds of dollars more than a PCP office visit. Consider telemedicine or urgent care instead whenever possible.

Generic medications meet the same high standards set by the FDA and contain the same active ingredients, strength, safety standards and quality. Ask your doctor to prescribe a generic medication whenever possible.

Urgent care and walk-in clinics provide a convenient, lower-cost alternative for non-emergency care after hours and on weekends.

Specialists can charge more than double the cost of a typical office visit, and on your first visit to a specialist, you will incur additional first-time-visit or consultation fees. Also, make sure your PCP refers you to an in-network specialist.

Similar to the way you can take a prescription to the pharmacy of your choice, you can ask for a written lab order and take it to the lab of your choice. National laboratory groups have significantly lower prices.

Rather than repeating costly tests, take your records with you to all of your doctor visits. This historical data also will help your doctor provide more comprehensive care.

The tax advantages available through Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are hard to beat. No matter how you plan to cover your healthcare expenses, keep in mind that premiums are only one part of your cost of healthcare. Even if you’re a healthy person, unexpected healthcare needs can pop up anytime. We encourage you to do what you can to prepare!