While we can all advance our positions and take sides in the ongoing healthcare debate, I think we can all agree that it would be nice to cut down on our own medical expenses in the meantime.  So, in the spirit of frugality and bipartisanship, I thought I’d share a few tricks for saving on medical expenses.

STAY OUT OF THE ER. Emergency room treatment costs more than alternatives.  Unless you’re really facing a legitimate EMERGENCY, you should do what you can to seek treatment elsewhere.  While some people hit the ER because they don’t have insurance and know they’ll get some care there, folks should be aware, as Being Frugal notes, that there are many clinics that offer affordable care based on a sliding fee scale.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR. Before you go see your doctor, only to then be referred to another doctor or specialist, call first.  In many cases, you can get the direct referral without making an unnecessary and expensive appointment.  Unless you love sitting around reading back issues of Field and Stream while you wait an hour for a 45 second, “you need to see Dr. So-and-So” appointment, let your fingers do the walking instead.

MORE TELEPHONE MAGIC. Not only can you avoid the dreaded referral (dis)appointment with a phone call, it’s also possible to get actual medical advice via telephone.  Instead of setting up an appointment, see if someone can help you via telephone.  Some hospitals and clinics offer great nurse help lines you can call.  In many cases, they can give you a few simple directions that will keep you from making a money-sucking appointment.  Obviously, you can’t try this technique if you have a railroad spike sticking out of your temple or a snapped femur.  In non-emergency situations, however, it can be worth making a call.

LOOK AT YOUR BILLS. Don’t assume the statement you receive in the mail is accurate.  It might be, but in many cases people find overbilling or billing for services that weren’t rendered on their bills.  It won’t take you that long to read through the itemization and it could save you a great deal of money.

A POUND OF PREVENTION. Stop smoking.  Eat an orange instead of three Cherry Mash candy bars and a large Dr. Pepper (light on the ice, please).  Consider testing the soles on your shoes instead of the world’s fossil fuel supply every once in awhile.  You know the drill.  Most of our medical expenses are avoidable.  If we took better care of ourselves in the first place, we wouldn’t be seeing the doctor as often or popping all of those pills.  We’d be saving on medical expenses by avoiding them.

NEXT TO GODLINESS. Practicing good hygiene and cleanliness can reduce the risk of contracting many illnesses.  Wash your hands, touch items within public toilets only when you’re wearing a HazMat suit, don’t play “give me five” with your nephew right after he wipes is runny nose on his hand.  This is really a subset of the other prevention factors, but I though it deserved it’s own entry because people often overlook this opportunity to stay healthier and to save dough on medical costs.

GENERICS. By now, this should be a second nature to anyone who’s not in the habit of burning cash for heat.  Generics contain the same stuff as the name brands, they do the same thing and they cost far less.  If you can fill your Rx with a generic, do so.

There you have it–seven very practical ways to save on medical expenses.  Following these recommendations won’t end the healthcare debate in Washington, but they may save you enough money to make a trip out there to lobby your Senator or Representative.