Many people are turning to low-cost premium health insurance plans to cope with rapidly escalating monthly premiums.
Certain of these high-deductible plans can be combined with a Health Savings Account (HSA) offer even more savings.
In addition to the tax-free interest, and tax deductions for health-related expenses, large independent firms that are not affiliated with specific insurance companies offer discount cards for expensive medical costs, such as lab fees and prescription drugs.
These additional savings can be found on the Internet.
Discounts on Lab Fees There is large mark-up on both lab fees and prescription drugs.
Since large independent health insurance firms maintain a big market share, they can offer substantial discounts.
Services are available that allow you to order lab tests, such as blood work and CAT scans online, and go to participating labs to have the tests run with a 48-hour turnaround.
Prescription Drug Discounts With a wide variation in prescription drug pricing, you can save a lot just by comparison shopping.
You can also take advantage of Prescription Drug Discount Cards through these independent health insurance firms.
Many of these discount cards can provide substantial savings at a wide range of large-chain pharmacies across the U.
S.
Special Reward Discounts for Health Savings Accounts The large market share of independent health insurance providers also allow them to strike bargains with common retailers, such Barnes & Noble, Netflix, Starbucks, Target, and other chains.
Online companies offer rewards where up to 25 percent of your qualifying purchases accumulate and transfer into your Health Savings Account.
Bill Negotiation Services Perhaps the biggest opportunity to save can come through no-cost bill negotiation services.
Large employers and insurance companies negotiate with doctors and hospitals to get much lower prices than the general public does, With a large presence in the marketplace, independent health insurance firms offer the same service to individuals, risk free.
Before paying a medical bill, you can submit your bill to a negotiation service.
If they can negotiate a reduced bill, you keep 70 percent of the savings! If they can't, you pay them nothing.
In other words, you have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain.
Online and Telephone Physician Consultations Large independent health insurance firms also have unique access to advise from doctors.
When you're saving with high-deductible health insurance, you pay for your small costs, including doctor office visits.
To save here, you can take advantage of special arrangements for real-time access to licensed physicians by phone, or through email.
At least, you'll be sure when you really need to pay to see a doctor.
When you save on doctor office visits, lab fees, and prescription costs, your savings can add up quickly.
Plus, you'll be saving with lower monthly premiums from your high-deductible insurance plan while your health savings account earns interest tax-free.
With such attractive features, Health Savings Accounts are growing in popularity.
Health Savings Accounts can provide greater control over your healthcare dollars.
When you become a member of a provider with a large share of the market, you can enjoy substantial discounts and benefits that are rarely available to individuals without health insurance through an employer.
With the out-of-control pricing for health care today, it's important to take advantage of all the savings that are available.