Lower Family Care Costs
tips to reduce family care costs
Hopefully your family care costs are not a large percentage of your family income. Barring any physical ailments, your care costs should be around 8-19% of your family budget. Shopping around and online for family care items can help reduce this percentage.
Page Topics:
Managing Your Insurance Costs
How much insurance? That depends on your obligations and your total need. Don't over-insure.
Many households obtain insurance benefits from their employers, which may cover medical, life, disability, and in some cases, child/elder care and veterinarian services.
But as insurance costs increase, many employers are shifting a larger percentage of the costs to the employee. You need to estimate how much insurance you need to adequately cover your needs without paying excessive insurance fees.
About Life Insurance
Let's start with this resource center for life insurance information:
- types of insurance
- individual coverage
- insurance calculators
www.life-line.orgHow much insurance should you get:
Find the right insurance at the right price.
Listed are some top sites to search and compare insurance:
link to our nBuy center for life insurance providers and quotes
For Your Youth :
Programs for Reducing Overall Medical Costs
Executive Health Network
offers a new dimension in health care...a low cost, non-insurance medical discount program that saves members money every time they use their benefit card. Members enjoy significant savings on health care needs immediately simply by presenting their card to participating providers.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
An HSA is a tax-exempt savings account that can be used to pay for medical care. It is commonly referred to as a medical IRA.
If you don't use the money in your HSA, the money rolls over to the next year. Any unused portion of the account after age 65 can be withdrawn for non-medical expenses similar to an IRA.
Those who qualify for an HSA:
- Individuals who are self-employed including sole proprietors, general partners or 2% or larger shareholders of S-corporations.
- Employees of a business with 50 or fewer employees.
Note: you can incorporate your "home business" and qualify for HSA. There are tax benefits using this option. See your tax advisory for information.
Additional answers to questions:
what is a HSA:
www.1hsa.com
Find medical savings accounts:
use an insurance agent to find the right HSA medical coverage:
www.insuranceagents.com
Short-Term / Supplemental Medical Insurance
Short-term medical insurance is generally purchased when you are between jobs or when you are a part-time employee without company coverage.
Supplemental medical coverage adds additional benefits to existing coverage:
Shop supplemental medical coverage:
link directly to our nBuy center for health insurance providers and savings
Another kind of supplemental insurance is for individuals on medicare and social security benefits:
for age 65 and up
About Dental Insurance
Consumer's guide to dental insurance:
- types of coverage
- individual vs. group coverage
- dental plans
www.cda.orgFind the right insurance at the right price. Some top sites to search and compare insurance:
About Disability Insurance
Resource information about disability insurance:
- sources of insurance
- individual coverage
- disability calculator
www.life-line.org
Disability insurance may be more important than life insurance. See why?
www.fool.com
There are short- and long-term disability probabilities. View the statistics:
www.efmoody.com/insurance/...
Shopping and picking the right disability insurance:
www.about-disability-insurance.com
About Long-Term Care Insurance
Consumer's guide to long-term care insurance:
- types of coverage
- individual vs. group coverage
- dental plans
www.aarp.orgFind the right insurance at the right price:
- www.insurancetracker.com
Receive a quick, FREE online quote by completing a simple 1-page inquiry form.
Medical Visits - Medical Costs
Don't assume that you medical insurance pays the full amount. Shop your medical needs for best price.
Each medical visits costs you money either as a co-pay to your insurance coverage or a percentage of the office visit price.
Make your visits count by knowing exactly what to ask. Keep in mind that "YOU" are paying for this medical visit. Make the doctors "WORK" for you.
Come prepared with a list of questions that the doctor should answer. Demand that the doctor take the time you feel necessary to address your questions. Don't be shy on getting your money's worth. It may save you a second visit later on.
Get medical questions and answers:
visit our nBuy center for health related information and services
You should shop around for your medical service.
Even though your insurance may cover up to a certain percentage, they will only cover a certain amount. Any excess falls back onto you.
Find and compare charges among doctors. It can save you money:
Shop doctors / dentists / hospitals:
visit our nBuy center for health related information and services
Programs for reducing overall medical costs:
Executive Health Network
offers a new dimension in health care...a low cost, non-insurance medical discount program that saves members money every time they use their benefit card. Members enjoy significant savings on health care needs immediately simply by presenting their card to participating providers.
Reducing Prescription Costs
Always asks your doctor for plenty of samples — and if you need a prescription, request a generic brand
The rising costs of prescription drugs is forcing consumers to shop wisely using online connections to discount pharmacies and other online stores. Do your research before buying prescription medication online.
- Buying drugs online from the FDA:
www.fda.gov
Check the National Board of Pharmacy:
www.nabp.net
Drug information:
www.nlm.nih.gov
Find Online Pharmacies:
visit our nBuy center for listing of online pharmacies
Check Your Local Pharmacy Shops
Many retail pharmacy shops such as Wal-Mart, Krogers, Target and other are offering discount pricing for generic drugs. Shop around to find the best price for your pharmacy needs.
visit our nBuy center for listing of brick-n-mortar pharmacies and pharmacy centers
Taking Care of Vision Costs
If you wear contacts, check the big discounts you can find online.
Vision costs include:
- eye exams
- correction lenses
- contacts
Many of these vision costs can be covered with the right insurance:
Receive a quick, FREE online health insurance quote by completing a simple 1-page inquiry form.
Shop online vision care for deep discounts:
visit our nBuy center for vision care
Veternarian Services
Know and compare the price before making the veterinarian appointment
Veterinarian charges are becoming a major budget item for some households. Costs are rising and many new procedures are allowing pet owners to prolong their pet's lives.
Any reduction strategy may involve pet insurance. Some employers offer some form of pet insurance, but most insurance must be purchased separately:
getting pet insurance:
www.petinsurance.comdog health care information — canine deseases and problems:
www.dogage.com
Changing Your Health Fitness Programs
Some fitness programs can be performed at home and on the cheap
Two key reasons for joining or keeping your membership in a health club:
- First, to keep yourself healthy and fit;
- Discipline yourself to keep yourself healthy and fit.
Now, you can keep yourself healthy and fit without being part of a health club. The question is whether you can discipline yourself to a regular schedule without the social interaction that a health club offers.
Allow us to suggest some self-fitness programs:
- Online Fitness Program:
www.global-fitness.com
Articles and topics on fitness:
www.fitnessonline.com
President's Council on Physical Fitness:
www.fitness.gov
View our directory of home gym equipment and home fitness programs: click here
Need to lose weight and improve your health?
visit our nBuy center for weight-loss programs
visit our nBuy center for fitness clubs
Child and Elder Care Costs
A growing percentage of elder care services are being performed in the home
Elder Care Services
Complete resource information on elder care services:
- caregivers guide
- finding elder care professionals (caregiver's directory)
- elder care loans
www.elderlifefinancial.comArticles and resource information about long-term elder care:
www.careguide.comSearch and compare elder care services in your area:
- search yellow pages:
elder care facilities
Child Care Services
Helpful publications for parents when selecting child care facilities:
- steps in selecting your care facility
- selecting a quality after-school program
- choosing care for a child with special needs
- and more
www.childcareaware.orgSearch and compare child care services in your area:
- search yellow pages:
child care facilitiesChild and Dependent Care Expenses quality for tax deductions.
- See your tax advisor for information:
view IRS form on Child and Dependent Care Expenses
$$$ Management Tips
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