Don’t sacrifice health to make billfold feel better

New York —- Even in an ailing economy, the one budget item you shouldn’t stop nursing is your health.

It’s an oft-repeated sentiment, but easy to forget when copays for doctor visits and medical procedures are piling up.

The numbers show more people are postponing care amid the deepening recession. In a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 53 percent of respondents said they or a family member cut back on health care because of costs.

The most common actions reported were relying on home remedies and over-the-counter drugs rather than visiting a doctor, according to the national poll.

Your own prognosis —- financial and medical —- can be improved by knowing how to navigate the system. Here are a few tips:

Save on copays

To cut down on repeated office visits and copays, don’t walk into a doctor’s office unprepared. Go armed with any past medical records your doctor might want to see.

“If it’s a significant medical issue like a heart attack, it doesn’t matter if it was five or 10 years ago,” said Seth Feltheimer, an internist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

Start collecting your records a month before your appointment, because getting paperwork from hospitals and doctor offices can be a slow process.

Jot down how you’ve been feeling recently, too. Make a note of any changes in your weight, energy and overall well-being in the past six months.

Another way to keep down costs is to follow up on test results over the phone.

Lastly, remember that you can get the most from your health plan by seeing an in-network doctor. If you go to an out-of-network doctor, copays can be up to 50 percent higher.

Tap flexible spending accounts

Consider starting a flexible spending account for health care costs during the next open enrollment period. This lets workers set aside pretax dollars to pay for certain qualified medical expenses, such as copays, deductibles and even over-the-counter drugs.

If you’re already enrolled, remember that you can use the account to pay for over-the-counter drugs and in some cases transportation expenses for a medical visit.

Just make sure you spend any money you set aside by the end of the plan year. Otherwise, you forfeit what’s left in the account.

Consider store-based clinics

If you don’t have insurance, consider a clinic based in a retailer such as Wal-Mart or Target. Clinics are staffed mostly by nurse practitioners and treat routine conditions such as colds, bladder infections, sunburn.

They typically charge between $40 to $70 for patients without insurance, according to the Convenient Care Association, an industry trade group.

The bottom line is that no matter what your financial situation, there are options to ensure your health doesn’t take a back seat to your budget. Besides, spending money on care now can stave off more serious, costlier conditions down the road.

Seek financial help

Hospitals and clinics usually have formal financial assistance programs. But doctors at small practices might be willing to work with patients one-on-one.

For instance, Feltheimer of New York Presbyterian often reduces his fee to about $50 a visit for the uninsured or out-of-work, down from the usual fee of about $100.

Those with chronic, debilitating diseases can tap the Patient Advocate Foundation, which offers help negotiating with insurers. Patients can call 1-800-532-5274 to be assigned a case manager.

Its sister organization, Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief, also provides assistance for people with a specific chronic disease, such as diabetes.

Free screenings

American Cancer Society: The organization’s National Cancer Information Center provides information about free screenings around the country for various conditions. The hotline, 1-800-227-2345, is available 24 hours a day.

American Academy of Dermatology: The group keeps a database of free skin cancer screenings around the country on its Web site at http://www.aad.org/public/exams/screenings/index.html. Many of the screenings are held in May, which is Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention month.

Centers For Disease Control And Prevention: The federal agency runs a national early detection program for breast and cervical cancers. To find out if you qualify, check the agency’s Web site for the location nearest to you. www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp.

Additionally, the CDC provides free colon cancer screenings for people 50 and over at five select locations around the country. For more information, check www.cdc.gov/Cancer/colorectal/basic-info/screening.

Local hospitals and clinics: Check to see if your local hospital or clinic is running a free screening that might be of interest to you.

—- Associated Press