Last week, our team shared 5 tips for saving cash on healthcare. If you missed out, read it here.

This week we’ll focus on savings as a result of proactively managing our health …a win-win! Plus, you might find a few Christmas gift ideas in this list :-)

1. Take a stand to move more

Don’t stop reading…literally, standing up more often is an intentional and beneficial step toward better health. Recent studies and articles tell us that sitting is the new smoking – apparently, it’s that bad for us.

Several freshbenies team members have stand-up desks. Dan, who is on our Sales team and recently wrote an articleabout his journey to better health, recommends trying one and adds, “Non-exercise movement is a good place to start. Take walks. Walk and do meetings at same time. Steve Jobs was famous for this, and most of us can walk and talk at same time.” Ok, Dan. I thought walking was exercise, but I get your point!

For those ready for a step up (pun intended), Dan encourages two fast but effective options…

• High-Intensity Interval Training Heidi just wrote about this one and studies are starting to show this is more beneficial than longer workouts. You don’t have to do it as often either.
• SuperSlow Weight Training One set does the trick so you save time and get incredible benefit. Just 8 counts up and 8 counts down, lighter weight, 10-12 reps and you’re done!  

2. Use tools that reinforce your goals

Tammy shares a practical way she monitors choices that affect her health. “I use the UP app from Jawbone. There’s a free version, and I recently updated to the UP3 which monitors my heart rate, REM/light/deep sleep habits, as well as my steps per day. It even has a Smart Coach to help me make better decisions. I really like how it helps me create healthier habits.” 

And Kendall, a friend o’ freshbenies, shared how she’s utilizing no-cost services from freshbenies to take charge of her health. “Doctors Online is one of my favorite benefits. Just in the past month I have asked the eDietician about the Paleo diet. I have talked with the ePsych about trouble sleeping (you need sleep for good health). I got answers from a reliable source and didn’t have to do my own research online.”

3. Take (or eat) your medicine

Keeping up with medications is critical to your health and in turn prevents more serious and costly care. But a recent survey shows about 8% of adult Americans don’t take their medicines as prescribed because they can’t afford them. Our freshbenies app includes an easy-to-use Rx savings tool that provides prices on your name brand or generic drug at local participating pharmacies. Who wouldn’t drive an extra 10 minutes to save some cash on the exact same prescription? (Psst…with our Prescription Savings discount, your savings range from 10% to 85%, with an average of 46% - it’s great for drugs that are expensive or not covered by insurance.)

Krystal shares, “With insurance, my monthly prescription was $88, but with freshbenies it’s only $48. The first time I used my freshbenies card, the pharmacist was skeptical and assured me that nothing was going to be cheaper than using my insurance. I asked her to run my freshbenies card anyway and when the total came out $40 cheaper she was so impressed she asked me how you get freshbenies!”

Jo Ann reminds us to use food as medicine, “I’m a huge fan of vitamin C. Whenever I start to feel bad, I want orange juice and green chili soup.” Dan agrees we should focus on the benefits of eating good food. “Read ingredients. Most of what you will read is not food. Be conscious of this and move to real food. I look for ingredients I recognize and can pronounce. Also, eat healthy fat, i.e. avocados, nuts, eggs, olives etc. They’re good for the brain and heart.” 

Sign me up for the green chili soup and a side of avocado! (Jo Ann, I need your recipe.)    

4. Don’t put off care

When trying to save money, we sometimes opt to put off care altogether. Don’t do it! That annual exam, mammogramor other annual screening are covered under most insurance plans and can save you tons of heartache and expense by catching something early. Did you know the US National Library of Medicine, projects a lifetime costs of breast cancer ranges from $20,000 to $100,000?

But physicals and those lovely tests that come with age milestones aren’t the only things we tend to put off….

When is the last time you went to the dentist? Neglecting dental care can lead to major problems and major cash. I’m guilty of having done this in the past. I now visit the dentist every 3 months because my gums had developed some deeper pockets which put me at risk for gum disease. Now, they’re looking good! I gladly use my dental discount as frequently as I wish, unlike traditional dental insurance!

If you’re already behind on dental visits, you can still save on the needed care. Keigh shares, “A few months back I took my 13 year old to the dentist. We got the news he had 4 cavities and needed his remaining baby teeth pulled. The total cost would have been nearly $1,100. With the dental discount portion of freshbenies, our cost came down to $564.”

5. Consider an option to traditional insurance

If you are taking care of yourself and seldom use insurance benefits, you may want to consider alternatives like Jo Ann did (and a few other freshbenies team members).

“Instead of opting for traditional individual insurance, I chose an ACA-compliant Christian health sharing program. I was able to save 75% in insurance premiums and therefore am able to bank the money for the medical what-ifs.”

Banking the money is a great way to be prepared in case the unknown happens. And, many of these plans offer an added discount if you’re in good health…so healthy lifestyle choices can lead to additional savings.

I’m happy to report I stood while writing this article and there are 3 avocados on my kitchen counter for the week! I’m taking this advice to heart (another pun, so sorry.)

Now it’s your turn! Which tips can you easily incorporate? What other suggestions do you have for saving on our health care? Comment below or email me at  jeanette@freshbenies.com.