Is there such a thing as being sick on a budget? Our family seems to think so! We try to even address our budget when it comes to our illnesses in life. Here are some ways that you can save money when you are sick:
- Try home remedies before reaching for the cough syrup. There are tons of wonderful remedies that you can do that don’t require a big expense. I am a big believer in chicken soup, a warm bath, hot tea, and lots of rest. The rest alone is sometimes enough for me to kick what is ailing me.
- If you need over-the-counter medications, try and stock up on these items when doing your drugstore rebates. Usually CVS & Walgreens both will run rebates on these medications and you can get them for free or really inexpensively. Other great resources are the Dollar General, the Dollar Tree, and the generic equivalents available at your large superstores. The best way to save a buck is to have your medicine cabinet stocked with these items before you are ill. A 24 hour drugstore with no sale will run you quite a bit more than what you would spend normally.
- Organize your medicine cabinet so you know exactly where your items are. We have a three drawer plastic container where we have our medications divided by ailment (cough/cold, pain relievers, stomach) and we put these in there. I get really mad at myself when I have run out to get a medication, only to find it days later in a hidden drawer. Keeping this and your First Aid kit organized are the best ways to know what you have on hand when sickness and emergency situations arise.
- When you go to the doctor, ask if they have any samples of the medications you might need. Sometimes, particularly with my children, I am able to get enough for a few days.
- If they don’t have any samples, ask if there are any prescriptions that they could give you off of the $4 list or free antibiotics from your local retailers. Call around and price check before you fill your prescriptions and always ask if you can get the generic version of any medication.
- If you start to feel ill, try right away to get in the doctor for treatment. A visit during normal office hours will be a lot less expensive than an urgent care clinic.
- When choosing a doctor, ask about evening hours and Saturday appointments. Pick a doctor with extended hours and this alone can save you quite a bit. I love that our doctor’s office is open until eight in the evening and that I have many more options for appointment times.
- If you do become ill, try after-hours clinics or places like MedPoint to get the care that you need (unless the illness is life-threatening). I have saved our family a lot of money by visiting these places instead of the emergency room. Just walking into the emergency room can put me in the negative, before I have even been checked, so these after-hour clinics can be a wonderful option for the frugal family.
- If your illness does require a hospital stay, make sure to check your bills. There are many expensive and unnecessary charges that can be added to your bill. This is one of those types where diligence will be your best defense in lowering your hospital bill. Don’t be afraid to ask what the charges are and have them explain the vague & general charges. You don’t have to be rude, but you can be very firm and polite when asking someone to explain what a “lab fee” is for. You are your own best advocate when you are educated about what you are paying for.
- Don’t forget to set up your emergency account for these types of situations. Check into getting a flexible spending account for your medical expenses. Consumer Reports offers this advice…”If your company offers a flexible spending account for your out-of-pocket health-care costs, go for it–but don’t go overboard.” Flexible spending accounts are usually use-it-or-lose it accounts. Figure out a rough estimate and go a little under that. Don’t know what to do with all that leftover money at the end of the year? Check out these 24 suggestions for spending your leftover flexible account money.
- The best way to stop yourself from getting sick is prevention. Exercise, take a daily multivitamin, and make healthy lifestyle choices. People who do these things save tons of money on doctor visits and medications. If that isn’t a powerful motivator, I don’t know what is!
Potential Monthly Savings: $20 or more
Sound Off: What are some ways you save money when your family is sick?
Asking the Doctor for samples has saved me a bundle, especially when I was pregnant.
I also make sure and check with my insurance company about receiving my medication through the mail. A generic 90 day prescription usually runs me $20.00
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In regards to flexible spending or FSA for short. Now if you buy certain items like at Walgreens if you look at your receipt you will see a “F” in front of the item if it is eligible for the FSA.
Even over the counter items like primatene Mist for asthma, or prevacid, etc. these all qualify for FSA so make sure you save your reciepts and also if eligible for FSA it can be considered on Medical for tax purposes deductions also.
WheezyMOM Vick8i
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Follow up with your insurance company by checking your explanation of benefits. Ask why a claim was denied, ask your doctor to refile, ask your insurance company to look over it again. Pay bills over the phone (or website), if no extra charges, to save a stamp.
Jennifer
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This is one area that I am so unprepared for. Whenever my husband or I are sick, I generally have to go to the store to get cold/flu medicine. It dawned on me the last time (quite a few months ago – we aren’t sick that often), that I should have the stuff we take on hand. But then I never did anything about it. I’ll have to watch for sales and stock my medicine cabinet. Thanks for the good ideas!
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Great tips! Thank!
Catherine
Angel Food Cake Isn’t a Candle
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Target Pharmacy also has a $4.00 prescription list…you can view the most current edition at their website.
Here is a link: http://sites.target.com/images/pharmacy/TargetPharmacy4DollarAlpha.pdf?ref=sc_iw_r_1_0_1Alpha
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Those are all excellent points- thank you so much for your comments!!
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Great article! I’ve stopped pretending we won’t get sick, so I do stock up on OTC remedies, including Airborne, when they’re on sale. I also mark the date opened right on the bottle with a Sharpie and circle the expiration date.
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Very wise tips!
Choose your doctor carefully. Some doctors like to try home remedies (baths, humidifiers, tylenol) before prescribing medicine. Some doctors are much quicker to prescribe antibiotics. Choose a doctor that fits your style.
I love my doctor (Frank Haraf in Nashville) because he exhausts home remedies before medicines, and he only uses antibiotics when they are truly needed.
Ask around, and find out who’s in your area!
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