It's time to unite; fight rising healthcare costs📈

A report titled “Low Health Literacy: Implications for National Health Policy” estimated the cost of low health literacy at $106-$238 billion annually, representing 7-17% of all personal healthcare expenses.

When people ask me what we can do to control the exponentially growing cost of healthcare, I tell them to become more educated healthcare consumers. When we research the purchase of a new cell phone, we spend time checking different models, sellers, features, reviews, etc. While the tools may not be as user-friendly in the healthcare world, they are available. Insurance is a tool to help distribute costs so that all people can "afford" healthcare, therefore every health decision I make contributes to the rising costs of health insurance premiums.

Below are a few ways to help control costs and get the most out of your health benefits:

1. Price Transparency:
   • Prescription Drugs 💊 - costs can vary based on where you fill your prescription, the duration of the supply, and the drug classification (i.e. brand vs. generic). Tools like GoodRx can provide guidance on generic alternatives and the most cost-effective pharmacy to fill your script. Additionally, often times your health plan offers a slight discount for ordering a 90-day supply via a mail order service over a 30-day supply at a retail pharmacy. (Typically the 90-day supply is only 2.5x the 30-day supply copay...3 times as much for only 2.5x the price!)
   • Common Medical Procedures 🏥 - costs can vary based on the location of care. For example, services performed at a freestanding or outpatient medical facility are often cheaper than hospital-based facilities. Additionally, telemedicine and urgent care are great alternatives to a costly visit to the emergency room. Not all procedures are appropriate for these lower-cost alternatives, but where possible it's worth the savings to explore. Through recent legislation, providers and insurers are now required to make pricing information readily available to consumers and this can often be obtained on their websites.
2. Health Plan Perks🤑:
   • Many health insurance plans offer discount programs for no additional cost. Employees can take advantage of discounts on gym memberships, massages, acupuncture, etc. Many people struggle with medical debt, so every penny counts when it comes to taking care of your health and staying financially well.
3. Healthy Lifestyle🧘🏽‍♀️💪:
   • Stay on top of your physician-recommended preventative & routine care. Early detection not only will save your life but also your wallet. 
   • Regular physical activity and a balanced nutritional diet will help you avoid many preventable and costly conditions.
4. Employee Assistance Program😌:
   
   • Many employer-provided disability plans automatically include EAP benefits. Some employers offer more robust programs that are separate from the insurance plan. Typical programs include 3 free sessions for things like financial, legal, substance abuse, child care, elder care, marriage counseling, etc. 

Winston Health aims to partner with employers to help their employees to become more engaged in their healthcare decisions. There is so much information and resources out there, but it's difficult to obtain and digest it all. That's what we're here to solve. Winston Health will be your lifetime healthcare companion and give you everything you need in the palm of your hand to make wise healthcare decisions! 🐶🚀