Asking for a prescription sample saves you money!

When I was going through my “write about someday” stack of ideas, I was reminded of a medicine savings strategy I used last spring with my son.

My oldest child suffers from seasonal allergies.  It is particularly difficult in the spring.  Last year, even with allergy medication, his nostrils completely swelled shut.  Ultimately, the doctor suggested switching his over-the-counter allergy medicine AND using a prescription strength nasal spray during those particularly bad moments.

I asked if he had a sample for this medication (we had never tried before) and he gladly gave us one.  So far…we haven’t spent a penny on my son’s prescription strength nasal spray for 1 full year because I asked for a sample!!

So…if your doctor prescribes a new medication, particularly if it is an expensive one, make sure to ask for a sample!! 

Happy Pinching Pennies…

P.S.  If the prescription is to treat a chronic condition, still ask for a sample or a 1-3 month supply to try it out.  I have a friend whose husband is suffering from leukemia and they were given a 3 month supply of a VERY expensive medicine he got used to the condition/medication.  They saved literally thousands of dollars by asking for a sample.

A family doctor WILL save you money....

A friend of mine gave me a call a couple of weeks ago asking for a doctor’s recommendation.  Upon moving here 2 years ago, they had set up a primary care doctor for their son, but neglected to do so for themselves.  She needed to set up an appointment for herself and found that because she had not established herself with a doctor she could NOT make an appointment in any kind of swift manner.  The soonest “new patient” appointment was 3 weeks away.  Her choices were severely limited.  She could go to Urgent care, the Emergency room or WAIT for the next available “new patient appointment”.  This reminded me of a money saving goal I had when we moved here 10 years ago.  

After unpacking, one of the 1^st things on my “To Do list” in my *new* hometown was to find a pediatrician AND a Primary care doctor for ourselves.   Sickness is never something that you plan for!!  Being sick is never convenient!  And it usually feels like it needs to be taken care of quickly….  So I highly recommend taking the time to find a doctor for each member of your family BEFORE you’re sick.  You will avoid a lot of frustration, worry AND medical bills.  Anyone who has seen a bill from the Emergency room OR Urgent care knows it is worth the hassle to establish yourself with a doctor when you are healthy and well!

Happy Stretching Pennies…

Immunizations or Vaccinations for less...

This summer has been a crazy one.  We’ve redone our kitchen, attended two family reunions, gone on a family vacation, attended another reunion, and our youngest had surgery in a hospital 7 ½ hours away from our home.  Time has flown by!!

Now that we are home, we have been preparing for the upcoming school year.  My youngest is entering kindergarten.  (WOW!  Time flies.  I haven’t been home alone during the day for over a decade!!)  My son needed to finish up his immunizations, like every other 5 year old in the US.

IF your insurance will cover your immunizations, go visit your family doctor to have them administered.

IF your insurance (is like mine) and will not cover, or will only partially cover the immunizations, you can still get your immunizations for a reasonable price!!

OUR insurance will cover a portion of the immunizations…up to a certain amount.  When you include the “well child” doctor bill in addition to the cost of many immunizations required at age 5, we would go well over the limit and would be held responsible for the remaining part of the bill that the insurance would not cover.  (Yes.  This has happened to us back when our son was 6 months old.  Our insurance had changed and we found out AFTER the shots had been administered.)  I did not want this to happen again.  The doctor’s office charges a hefty price for each immunization.

Your local Health Department offers immunizations to the public!!  IF you are UNDER-insured (like us) or NOT insured at all—this is the option for you!!  AND this program is not just for children either!!  (I got my 10 year tetanus shot several years ago there as well.)  Our health department charges according to how many shots are administered (or each needle…not the immunization). 

• 1 shot= $16
• 2-3 shots= $25
• 4 or more shots= $30

This option was a FAR more affordable way to get my son his vaccinations that going to the doctor’s office.  Keep your health updated does not need to break the bank!!

 Happy Stretching Pennies…

Medical Bill Discounts

At some point or another, a MAJOR medical bill may impact your life.  It could be a surgery, a birth, a chronic illness or condition, or a big “surprise”.  No matter the circumstance, the financial impacts are NOT  “nice” to any budget!

IF you have the ability to pay any of these bills in full—make sure to ask for a discount!!  Possibly saving you hundreds of dollars!!!  My question to the billing department sounds something like this: “If I paid this bill in full, do you offer a discount?”  In all honesty, the doctor just wants to be paid and the less they have to hound you or track your bill the better it is for them!  Often, in “major” circumstances, (as opposed to routine visits), they will offer you a 20% discount!  (In each of these examples in my life, the arrangements were made prior to the procedure.)

This is an example of some paperwork before a procedure...although it not always presented in this way.  A verbal inquiry can produce the SAME results!!

Examples from our life:

• All 3 of my children’s births were at a 20% discount
• 3 of our surgeries were at a 20% discount
• Some “procedures” such as an MRI was at a 20% discount

IF you do NOT have the ability to pay in full—MAKE SURE YOU ASK IF THEY HAVE A "FINANICAL HARDSHIP DISCOUNT"!  Remember your doctor wants to be paid.  So if you pay your "designated part," the doctor may consider your remaining balance as a “tax-write-off” for himself/herself!  Yes.  We have been the beneficiaries of this before.  Do NOT be afraid to ask!!!  What’s the worst they could say?  Answer: “No".  Either way the bill will either stay the same OR will decrease significantly!!

Happy Stretching those pennies...