These tips may help you manage your healthcare spending throughout the year.

Plan your budget

Insurance companies share the cost of healthcare with you, but only after you first spend a specified amount each year. The dollar amount you will spend for healthcare begins with the medical insurance policy you agree to. It’s important to know what your policy says about how much you agree to pay every year out of pocket for your care. This will allow you to set this money aside when you need it.

Choose Urgent Care or Express Care when you can (instead of the Emergency Department)

How quickly do you need care?

• If there’s a risk of death or permanent harm, it’s an emergency. Examples: chest pain, trouble breathing, severe pain or bleeding.
• If you need care that can’t wait until tomorrow, you need Urgent Care or Express Care. Examples: strep throat, bladder infection, rash.

Plan ahead by knowing the options near you – including NH+C’s Urgent Care in Lakeville and Express Care Clinic in Northfield.

Understand costs before getting care

Use NH+C’s Price Estimate Tool to calculate your cost, based on the services you need and your specific insurance coverage: http://bit.ly/nhc-estimator

Or call our Price Estimate Line: 507-646-1084

(This is a good faith estimate and is not a guarantee of what you will be charged.)

It’s important to know what healthcare services and providers your insurance policy does and does NOT cover because you will have to pay for all non-covered services and all out of network providers out of your own pocket.

Take advantage of preventive services

Insurance typically covers yearly physicals, vaccinations for children, non-diagnostic mammograms and other screening tests at no cost. Check with your insurance carrier. Members of Medicare are entitled to free “Annual Wellness Visits” to discuss health concerns, identify any health risks, and help to make positive lifestyle changes to get or stay as healthy as possible. Learn more about Annual Wellness Visits. 

Take care of your health every day

Make healthy lifestyle choices: stay at a healthy weight, get regular exercise, don’t use tobacco. Manage chronic conditions like diabetes or asthma. It’s often easier said than done, but staying healthy helps prevent bigger health problems from developing.