0 How to save on Medical Expenses

• Health Care
• Author Rob Harris
• 03-15-2024

  Images by Freepik How to save on Medical Expenses Most consumers have learned from personal experience that healthcare costs are steadily increasing, leaving us with higher out-of-pocket costs. Here are a few ways to save money on healthcare-related expenses. By spending a little time learning how to reduce your healthcare expenses you can make a significant difference in reducing your out-of-pocket costs.   The cost of prescription drugs is continually escalating Ask your physician about splitting a higher-dosage pill in half. The difference in cost of the higher-dosage pill is usually minimal and you may come close to receiving two pills for the price of one. This could be the best two-for-one deal around. Ask your physician for free samples to test a medication's effectiveness. It is possible that your body may not be able to tolerate a new medication and it's better to try the samples before purchasing an entire month's supply. When you need a prescription filled, call your local Pharmacies to see who offers the lowest price for the medication you need. Many consumers don't realize that Pharmacies set their own medication pricing. Discuss receiving a generic equivalent with your physician or pharmacist. You can save as much as 40% to 60% by choosing a generic drug instead of a name-brand prescription. Purchasing a store brand (instead of a name brand) of an over-the-counter medication can easily save a consumer over $100 a year. Many drugs have similar over-the-counter alternatives (no prescription needed) that will save you money. You may find your best deals online but you should make sure the website is legitimate. Reputable online pharmacies should carry the seal of Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) and/or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). This means that the online pharmacy complies with licensing and inspection requirements for their state and the states in which they distribute pharmaceuticals.   Prescription Price-Saving Apps Check into Prescription Savings Plans such as Good RX, SingleCare, WellRx, or BlinkHealth for their price cuts compared to suggested retail prices. Most of these plans offer free home delivery, work with 30 to 70 thousand pharmacies nationwide, and can save you up to 80% off your prescription drugs, including some pet meds. Be sure to take all of your medication as prescribed – even if you start to feel better – as a relapse could occur and a return visit to your doctor may be needed.   Enjoying Senior Living Find a Senior Living Facility Near You. Click On Your State To View Listings in Your Area. Find a Community Near You Content Marketing Offers the Highest Return On Investment Online, or content marketing and advertising, is currently the second-highest method of promoting businesses following only Television which, for now, remains in the number one position. Experts have predicted that digital ads will surpass TV by 2025 and not look back. For cost-effectiveness, and the ability to directly target your audience, nothing matches the ROI of digital marketing. Learn More Digital Marketing Offers Three Opportunities To Reach Your Audience Studies show that the majority of people will use their phones to search for content that addresses their current needs and then switch to their computers for more in-depth research before making final decisions or purchases. With three different platforms, computers, tablets, and phones, it is important to make sure your audience can follow your content and ads on any device. The upside to this is you have three opportunities to reach them. All of our Websites are developed to work flawlessly on all three platforms. Learn More Visit a retail health clinic when possible These healthcare clinics are located in many retail stores, pharmacies, and grocery stores throughout the United States. They offer limited services but are perfect for treating common illnesses, infections, and skin conditions and many also offer vaccination services. These clinics are fast and inexpensive. Urgent Care facilities and hospital emergency rooms have a large cost associated with their services. Even for those who have medical coverage, an insurance co-pay is usually much higher for an Emergency Room visit than for a clinic or physician's office visit.     Negotiate the cost of your healthcare services. A poll conducted by Harris Interactive found that about 66% of adults who tried to negotiate their charges with a hospital or a dentist were successful and about 60% were successful when negotiating with a physician. You have nothing to lose by asking for a discount.   It is very important for patients to follow doctor's orders. Studies indicate that about 10% of hospital confinements are a direct result of patients not following their physician's instructions.   Keep a log of medical services provided to you. This is especially important if you are hospitalized. Always ask for an itemized bill and compare it to your log. It has been found that more than 50% of hospital bills have some type of billing error. Also remember, you may be able to deduct medical, dental, and vision expenses on your Tax Return.   Knowledge + Awareness = Lower Healthcare Costs     If you enjoyed this article, or have a topic you would like to suggest for a new article, please leave a comment in the form below.  

0 Medication Management

• Health Care
• Author Rob Harris
• 07-26-2021

    Medication Management Our aging population is the largest consumer of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and vitamin and supplements in the US and a large percentage take more than one prescribed drug. It is no wonder then that they are more likely to get them mixed up and not manage them properly. A study performed by Uptodate.com, an evidence-based information resource for medical professionals, shows that 87% of seniors take one prescription drug, 36% take 5 or more, and 38% use over-the-counter medications. According to The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), medication mismanagement is one of the leading causes for older adults to be placed in a nursing home. They also state that around 30 percent of hospital admissions for older adults are drug-related and some 11 percent are due to nonadherence to medication instructions. In addition, 10–17 percent is caused by adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and this is not the worst of it. Older adults that are taking more than five drugs when released from the hospital are more likely to return to the emergency room and then be readmitted within six months of being discharged.   When asked, most older adults confessed that their number one desire was to stay in their homes for as long as possible. Correctly administering your medications is an essential step to maintaining your health and wellbeing, but more importantly, it is a necessary part of staying independent.   Following a few simple procedures is the key to keeping up with your medications and making sure you don’t fall into some bad habits. Below are some suggestions to help you manage your medications. Make a list of all medications you are taking and keep them in one location, preferably in a cool dry place, with the exception being drugs that might need refrigeration (your doctor should be able to provide this list for you but double-check it for accuracy). Organize them based on how often they are taken, if they are regular every day or taken as needed, whether they are prescription or over-the-counter, vitamin and supplements, etc. KEEP ALL DRUGS SAFELY STORED WHERE CHILDREN CANNOT REACH THEM! Use a pill organizer that allows for at least a week at a time and separates them from morning and evening doses. If you are required to take them more than twice a day find an organizer with more compartments so you can divide them based on hours each day rather than days. Find an alarm system that alerts you when it is time to take your medications. It can be a simple old-fashioned alarm clock, or if you are comfortable with modern technology, find a source that offers multiple alarms throughout the day. In most cases, your smartphone will work for this or a home monitor system like Alexa can be programmed to notify you when it is time to take your medications. The key is taking them at regular times each day no matter what you may be doing. The nurse at the hospital wakes you up to take your medications at designated times throughout the day and you should do the same, regardless of how ridiculous you may think that is. If your medication says to take it twice a day that means morning and evening, not two together at the same time. Some medications can be harmful or even fatal if taken too close together so make sure you take them at the proper times throughout the day. Your medications are designed to improve your health but that only works if you take them correctly. Most pharmacies will remind you of upcoming renewals on your medications but don’t take that for granted. Check and make sure there is a system in place to keep your medications current and ordered in time to replace any that may be running low. Adverse Drug Reactions or ADRs can be very serious and you should double-check with your pharmacist to make sure that what you are taking is compatible with other drugs. This includes all pills and liquid prescriptions along with any over-the-counter medications you are taking, but don’t forget to include all vitamins and supplements as well. These can be dangerous if taken with certain medications and you should make sure your doctors know if you are planning to include them in your daily regimen. If you decide to investigate your medications for ADRs yourself using an online resource and find a discrepancy do not make any changes without asking your doctor first. One of the biggest problems associated with medication management is remembering when to take them. If you are getting forgetful or losing track of day or night (some people who don’t leave their house for long periods of time may get confused and not know if it is day time or night time) it is probably time to consider getting help with managing your medications.   Another concern with some older adults is denial. It is more common than you may think but many older adults don’t want to admit that they may not be thinking as clearly as they once did. Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson or general old age doesn’t hit like a thief in the night. This is a slow process that gradually takes root over extended periods of time and most don’t realize it or want to admit it, so they live in denial. This form of denial is the most dangerous because it can lead to very serious consequences. It is not just the danger, and possible death, from mismanaging medications, but what about operating dangerous tools or driving a motor vehicle? If you or someone you know has had success convincing an older relative or friend, that was previously living in denial, that it is time to allow someone to help we would love to hear how you were able to manage it. Please leave us a comment in the form below and share your method with us so we can share this with others. Thank you. Content Marketing Offers the Highest Return On Investment Online, or content marketing and advertising, is currently the second-highest method of promoting businesses following only Television which, for now, remains in the number one position. Experts have predicted that digital ads will surpass TV by 2025 and not look back. For cost-effectiveness, and the ability to directly target your audience, nothing matches the ROI of digital marketing. Learn More Digital Marketing Offers Three Opportunities To Reach Your Audience Studies show that the majority of people will use their phones to search for content that addresses their current needs and then switch to their computer for more in-depth research before making final decisions or purchases. With three different platforms, computers, tablets, and phones, it is important to make sure your audience can follow your content and ads on any device. The upside to this is you have three opportunities to reach them. All of our Websites are developed to work flawlessly on all three platforms. Learn More  

0 Sleep Disorders

• Health Care
• Author Mary Shannon
• 07-19-2021

    Sleep Disorders We’ve all heard how getting a good night’s rest can make a world of difference in the way you think and feel. Generally, you know which category you fall into, restful or restless sleep, but whether you are aware of it or not the people around you are usually very aware of it. Family, friends, co-workers, pretty much everyone you come in contact with will know if you are getting enough sleep by the way you interact with them. Are you experiencing problems with your relationships? It very well could be sleep-related. Sleep Studies, also known as Polysomnography have become big business over the last few decades with many breakthroughs in diagnosis and cures. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHBLI) have provided an overview with some valuable information that can help you determine whether you should seek professional care. Sleep studies are painless, noninvasive tests that measure how well you sleep and how your body responds to sleep problems. (NIH) Sleep Studies have been known to diagnose a plethora of problems including: Sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep apnea Sleep-related seizure disorders Sleep disorders that cause extreme daytime tiredness such as narcolepsy Sleep-related movement disorders Doctors are also able to use sleep studies to diagnose or rule out restless legs syndrome, PTSD, and even Parkinson’s disease. If left untreated, sleep disorders can increase your chances of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and may lead to a higher risk for stroke or heart failure. Studies have also proven that Sleeplessness is a leading cause of auto accidents and personal injuries both at work and around the house. Sleep Studies are conducted either in a controlled environment at a sleep clinic or your doctor may determine that an in-home study with portable equipment will be sufficient. Regardless of what your study reveals you can ‘rest assured’ that you, your family, your friends, co-workers, and everyone you know will benefit from the results. A special thank you to Mary Shannon at seniorsmeet.org for contributing to this article. Content Marketing Offers the Highest Return On Investment Online, or content marketing and advertising, is currently the second-highest method of promoting businesses following only Television which, for now, remains in the number one position. Experts have predicted that digital ads will surpass TV by 2025 and not look back. For cost-effectiveness, and the ability to directly target your audience, nothing matches the ROI of digital marketing. Learn More Digital Marketing Offers Three Opportunities To Reach Your Audience Studies show that the majority of people will use their phones to search for content that addresses their current needs and then switch to their computer for more in-depth research before making final decisions or purchases. With three different platforms, computers, tablets, and phones, it is important to make sure your audience can follow your content and ads on any device. The upside to this is you have three opportunities to reach them. All of our Websites are developed to work flawlessly on all three platforms. Learn More    

0 Get Regular Check-Ups

• Health Care
• Author Mary Shannon
• 07-14-2021

    Get Regular Check-Ups Looking healthy on the outside doesn’t always translate into being healthy on the inside. Maintain a regular check-up routine with your primary care provider and specialists to ensure you’re on the right health track. Our bodies change with age, and ensuring you’re doing all you can to maintain an optimum state of health and physical fitness can be critical to enjoying this time of your life; no matter how old you are. This is even more important if you’re managing a chronic illness or other health condition that requires ongoing treatment. Don’t let vanity or pride get in the way of your health and wellbeing. Wearing your glasses or hearing aids benefits the people around you as much, or even more in some cases, as it does the wearer. Feeling bad should never keep you from going to see the people that can help you feel better. Be an advocate for yourself, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek second opinions. If you have concerns, bring them up right away. If you’re planning to embark on a new fitness journey or physically active lifestyle, getting the go-ahead from your physician can help you proceed without reservation. Take it slow in the beginning, especially if it’s been a while since you exercised. The fact that you ran a marathon twenty years ago doesn’t mean you can do that today. Making yourself too sore to work out the next day makes it even more difficult to start a new routine. So keep it simple, keep it fun, but remember to stay under close observation by those who can help you most. A special thank you to Mary Shannon at seniorsmeet.org for contributing to this article. Content Marketing Offers the Highest Return On Investment Online, or content marketing and advertising, is currently the second-highest method of promoting businesses following only Television which, for now, remains in the number one position. Experts have predicted that digital ads will surpass TV by 2025 and not look back. For cost-effectiveness, and the ability to directly target your audience, nothing matches the ROI of digital marketing. Learn More Digital Marketing Offers Three Opportunities To Reach Your Audience Studies show that the majority of people will use their phones to search for content that addresses their current needs and then switch to their computer for more in-depth research before making final decisions or purchases. With three different platforms, computers, tablets, and phones, it is important to make sure your audience can follow your content and ads on any device. The upside to this is you have three opportunities to reach them. All of our Websites are developed to work flawlessly on all three platforms. Learn More