Preventative Care: Simple Ways to Reduce Healthcare Costs
Healthcare can be expensive. In fact, the average American hospital bill comes to $10,700 according to HCUP. However, there are simple ways to reduce your healthcare costs. Preventative care is one of them. If you invest in taking care of your body before any problems begin, you’ll be able to avoid the worst of them. If you want to save money on healthcare costs, consider these preventative care tips to get you started.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
The average time that people wait between dentist visits is three years. However, you should visit your dentist every six months for a full cleaning. Oral health is as essential to your wellbeing as any other part of your body. Not only can mouth disease lead to problems in other body systems, your mouth is how your body takes in fuel and nutrients in order to function. If you have gum disease or are missing teeth, it can be difficult to eat the foods that you need in order to have adequate nutrition. Dental care can also be very expensive, so you want to avoid it as much as possible. If you take the time to get regular cleanings, it’ll keep your mouth healthy and prevent you from spending more money on expensive procedures.
Find a Primary Care Physician
You shouldn’t just be seeing a doctor when you’re in poor health. If you want to reduce your healthcare costs, you should see a primary care physician regularly. They can help you detect problems early on and get them taken care of. They can also help you prevent problems from starting at all through wellness education and regular screenings. While you have to invest some time and money in getting established with a primary care physician, it will save you money in the end. If you don’t have a primary care physician and need to find one, you’re not alone. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges Physician Shortage Report, population growth and aging are the top sources of demand for primary care physicians. So start looking for one now and you’ll be able to find one that fits your needs.
Consider a DO
DOs, or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, make up 11% of American physicians. This number is up 300% over the past thirty years and 63% over the past ten. A DO is a fully licensed doctor who focuses on whole-body health over specific systems. They’ll generally focus on how to improve overall health rather than using medication to treat specific issues. While they are not as well known as MDs, DOs are equally professional and can be a great resource if you want to focus on your full body’s health. So if you’re searching for a primary care physician, consider one that is a DO.
Exercise Regularly
Your body needs regular movement in order to stay healthy. Make sure that you’re getting enough exercise in your everyday life. Exercise promotes good circulation, builds strength, and boosts your immune system. All of these things can help you fight off infection or injury that might otherwise send you to the doctor. If you’re not an athlete, find some form of exercise that you enjoy. It doesn’t have to be anything intense or complicated. Even a few twenty-minute walks a week will go a long way toward keeping you healthy and out of the doctor’s office.
Preventative care is one of the best ways to save money on your medical bills. If you plan ahead and invest some time and energy into caring for yourself, you won’t need to spend money on expensive medical treatments you could have otherwise avoided. So make sure that you’re taking care of yourself and remaining in good health.