by Galen Gregory

Created on: March 12, 2009

The burden of rising health care costs on family budgets is a worry in many American households. Most experts believe that there will be no real relief from this burden until we enact major health care reform in this country. But what can we do in the meantime to reduce our medical bills?

Even if you're fortunate enough to have health insurance, medical expenses can add up quickly. The first thing you should do is to educate yourself thoroughly about the insurance plans and other benefits offered by your employer, so you can make an informed decision about which plan is best for you and your family. If you're in good health, maybe a high deductible insurance plan plus a Health Savings Account is the way to go. If you're older and have a chronic medical condition, you might need to choose a PPO plan with a low deductible, even though the premium will be higher. If your employer offers Flexible Spending Accounts and you're trying to decide how much to contribute to your each paycheck, don't just pull a number out of the air. Sit down with pencil and paper and try to come up with an accurate estimate of your prescription drug costs, doctor visits co-pays, and any other expenses that you anticipate. After all, if you're going to have to pay those bills, you might as well do it with pre-tax dollars. When it's time to enroll for your benefits, take the time to meet with the available representative, who can answer your questions and offer advice about the advantages of the various plans.

If you're one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, health care costs are bound to be a nagging worry. If you are in a low-income bracket, there are many programs which can assist you. First, most large cities have public hospitals which offer a fee reduction program based on income and the number of people in your household. There are also Federally Qualified Health Centers located in underserved rural and urban areas, which are required to offer medical services to anyone, based on a sliding scale. To locate such a center in your area, you can go to Findahealthcenter. In many urban areas there are often "free clinics" which offer routine medical care to low income people. If you have children, it is important to see if you meet the income guidelines to enroll them on the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which offers health insurance at little or no cost, depending on family income. Income guidelines vary by state, but as an example, in Texas, for

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>