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Your Tips: How do you manage out-of-pocket healthcare costs?

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Dec 8, 2021

There are costs to healthcare that may not be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or your insurance. These costs can be beyond a family's financial means. Sometimes people seek to raise funds, move locations, switch jobs, or apply for charitable aid.

What resources or steps have you taken to help cover out-of-pocket costs or to get coverage?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

mymayoid | @mymayoid | Jan 1, 2022
In reply to @roch "I have Medicare, supplemental policy and Medicare D insurance for prescriptions. Unfortunately, my Medicare Plan D..." + (show)
@roch

I have Medicare, supplemental policy and Medicare D insurance for prescriptions. Unfortunately, my Medicare Plan D does not cover many of my prescription drugs.

I use GoodRx coupons to reduce the cost of my prescription drugs that are not Tier 1. It can save me over $100 on some prescriptions. There are other programs that do similar coupons.

It takes time to research costs, what pharmacy accept coupons, etc., but worth the time to save money.

I have friends who get their prescription drugs from Canada. I have not researched that yet.

Laurie

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I saved nearly $100 on my scrip for methotrexate at GeniusRx.com. Prednisone is also cheaper.

REPLY
1 reply
nessiemac | @nessiemac | Jan 8, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "Ginger - The ombudsman is a great option. Last week a group in our Texas community..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Ginger - The ombudsman is a great option.
Last week a group in our Texas community had this very discussion, and the range of responses was astonishing. Everything from "I don't bother" (total denial) to elaborate analysis each year to pick the best plan. We are fortunate to have access to continuing my former employer's plan in tandem with Medicare Parts A & B - not cheap - about $8400/year for the premiums, but it covers most copays except medications. I always make sure to ask whether the generic meds will work, and by doing so have kept our prescriptions under $3000/year. I have done the math a few times to see if there was a better option, but with recurring medical issues for both of us, paying the premium to minimize out of pocket costs is the best way for us.
One of my friends bought the top tier Medicare C supplement for the same reason - nearly no out of pocket copays - she felt it was a better choice on her fixed income to KNOW what her costs would be each year instead of having surprise bills for emergencies. Her son analyzed it and agreed she is actually saving money with the higher plan, maybe not every year, but overall.
Sue

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I’m not familiar. Would you mind explaining what is ombudsman, please?

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 8, 2022
In reply to @nessiemac "I’m not familiar. Would you mind explaining what is ombudsman, please?" + (show)
@nessiemac

I’m not familiar. Would you mind explaining what is ombudsman, please?

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Hello, an ombudsman is a person who helps you navigate through a complex system like government benefits, insurance, long-term care, etc. Sometimes they are part of the state's "Office of Aging", "Senior Services" or similar agency. Or they may be contracted by that agency. Try to Google [Your state name] Senior Services and it will lead you to resources for your location.
Does this help? What kind of help do you need to find?
Sue

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2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 8, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "Hello, an ombudsman is a person who helps you navigate through a complex system like government..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Hello, an ombudsman is a person who helps you navigate through a complex system like government benefits, insurance, long-term care, etc. Sometimes they are part of the state's "Office of Aging", "Senior Services" or similar agency. Or they may be contracted by that agency. Try to Google [Your state name] Senior Services and it will lead you to resources for your location.
Does this help? What kind of help do you need to find?
Sue

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Thank you, @sueinmn

@nessiemac Wading through all the information that is out there can be overwhelming. Being able to access resources to people who know the system better than we do, "speak" the language better, and who can assist us make informed decisions is priceless! I hope you are able to find just the right person to help you out!
Ginger

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Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Jan 8, 2022
In reply to @roch "I have Medicare, supplemental policy and Medicare D insurance for prescriptions. Unfortunately, my Medicare Plan D..." + (show)
@roch

I have Medicare, supplemental policy and Medicare D insurance for prescriptions. Unfortunately, my Medicare Plan D does not cover many of my prescription drugs.

I use GoodRx coupons to reduce the cost of my prescription drugs that are not Tier 1. It can save me over $100 on some prescriptions. There are other programs that do similar coupons.

It takes time to research costs, what pharmacy accept coupons, etc., but worth the time to save money.

I have friends who get their prescription drugs from Canada. I have not researched that yet.

Laurie

Jump to this post

I also have Medicare and find it helpful to use GoodRx coupons for scripts that are high cost.

REPLY
nessiemac | @nessiemac | Jan 8, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "Hello, an ombudsman is a person who helps you navigate through a complex system like government..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Hello, an ombudsman is a person who helps you navigate through a complex system like government benefits, insurance, long-term care, etc. Sometimes they are part of the state's "Office of Aging", "Senior Services" or similar agency. Or they may be contracted by that agency. Try to Google [Your state name] Senior Services and it will lead you to resources for your location.
Does this help? What kind of help do you need to find?
Sue

Jump to this post

Thank you for the information. I’m new to Medicare (now 65) & have my private health care insurance as supplemental insurance from my retirement job, which I wasn’t aware of the government protocol. I’m trying to find resources to get a social worker for help with getting a part time caregiver for minimal assistance driving to doctor’s appointments & running small errands while in recovery. I cannot drive right now due to partial vision loss & a vestibular issue.

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 8, 2022
In reply to @nessiemac "Thank you for the information. I’m new to Medicare (now 65) & have my private health..." + (show)
@nessiemac

Thank you for the information. I’m new to Medicare (now 65) & have my private health care insurance as supplemental insurance from my retirement job, which I wasn’t aware of the government protocol. I’m trying to find resources to get a social worker for help with getting a part time caregiver for minimal assistance driving to doctor’s appointments & running small errands while in recovery. I cannot drive right now due to partial vision loss & a vestibular issue.

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That is a perfect role for someone from the Office on Aging or even the customer assistance staff of your insurer. If your physician is part of a clinical practice, they may also offer help.

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lioness | @lioness | Jan 8, 2022

@ginger I'm having ear problems and I know you talked about this but I forgot what had occurred to you and the remedy you had. Can you elaborate it for me again Thanks Linda

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1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 9, 2022
In reply to @lioness "@ginger I'm having ear problems and I know you talked about this but I forgot what..." + (show)
@lioness

@ginger I'm having ear problems and I know you talked about this but I forgot what had occurred to you and the remedy you had. Can you elaborate it for me again Thanks Linda

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@lioness I use a homemade drop treatment that is a 50-50 mix of rubbing alcohol and cider vinegar. Three to 4 drops in each ear. Lay on your one side, to allow the drops to work their way into the ear canal that is "right side up" [tip your head if needed, you'll probably feel the drops go in]. Wait a few minutes, then repeat on other side. What this does is dry out the ear canal, and help change the acidity, resulting in fewer infections.

Hope this helps,
Ginger

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1 reply
suzquez | @suzquez | Jan 9, 2022
In reply to @mymayoid "I saved nearly $100 on my scrip for methotrexate at GeniusRx.com. Prednisone is also cheaper." + (show)
@mymayoid

I saved nearly $100 on my scrip for methotrexate at GeniusRx.com. Prednisone is also cheaper.

Jump to this post

We auto-withdraw $250 every other week to a savings for Medicare and other medical costs.

REPLY
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