It’s that time of year! That’s right…the “Best of 2014” lists are everywhere! So, we thought we’d join the fun and provide our top 5 freshbenies articles from 2014. Without further ado…enjoy!

1) 40 Million Reasons (OK, 4) You Need ID Theft Protection 

Did you shop at Target the few days before Christmas? 

My friend said, "It was GREAT. The store was totally empty and I could get everything I needed quickly. Of course, I have identity theft protection so I wasn’t really that concerned!”

On 12/19, Target sent emails to their customers alerting them that almost 40 million credit and debit cards were stolen (more recently it's been reported that 110 million Americans were impacted - payment data of 40 million customers and the personal data, such as phone numbers and addresses, of as many as 70 million people). This was not limited to Target credit card holders - anyone who used a credit card at a store could be affected. Since then, Target has cautioned customers to  “check your account for unusual activities.” Um…YIKES! 

Click here to read the rest of this article.

2) Can a Health Discount Card Help Me?

Who doesn’t love the thrill of saving money? Getting deals is like a professional sport to many Americans and Groupon has proven that we love discounts on just about anything: massages, carpet cleaning, guitar lessons, hot air balloon rides, vacations, etc., etc. 

But, what about healthcare? Gone are the days when our insurance plans cover every need in our family – even with good insurance coverage, some things just slip through the cracks. However, most Americans don’t think about getting discounts on health care stuff. 

There are some REAL savings to be had with a health discount card – a good one will pay for itself many times over with the savings you’ll get. 

In an earlier article, I answered 10 in-depth questions about health discount cards. Below, I’ll answer 3 basic questions about discount cards and then give a few real-life examples…

Click here to read the rest of this article.

3) My Super Saving Experience with a Health Advocate

Have you figured out that your medical plan doesn’t cover everything? …that your out-of-pocket costs and deductibles are higher than in the past?

Well, I have! Last month, I went to the doctor for my annual physical. Based on some issues I was having, he prescribed an MRI and two sonograms. 

My first thought was not my health, but “how much is that going to run me?” 

My doctor is awesome because he suggested some other procedures that might also work, but they were much more expensive. I think the amazing thing is that we actually talked through options to keep the cost of my healthcare manageable. 

Did you know medical pricing is NOT same from one location to the next? Fact: Medical prices can vary 300%+ between healthcare providers for the same procedure, in the same network, and within the same zip code. Click herefor more on that.

It’s true! Here’s my story…

Click here to read the rest of this article.

4) 6 Reasons Telemedicine is Hot (& Why It's Good For You)

Have you ever had symptoms of a medical issue and you knew exactly what was going on? When my eye is gooey, pink, sealed shut and I want to gouge it out from itching…it’s a pretty safe bet I have the dreaded Pink Eye. 

Enter telemedicine! Simply put, telemedicine is the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology. If you’re not familiar with the tactical steps of a telemedicine doctor visit, click hereto learn more. 

Millions of Americans currently have this service and the market for telemedicine is expected to hit $1 billion by 2016 and $6 billion by 2020, according to InMedica, a division of IMS Research.

I believe there are 6 reasons for this mega growth….

Click here to read the rest of this article.

5) 7 Ways to Save on Your Prescriptions

Are you paying more for prescription drugs? The stats say that you probably are. I recently wrote an article about the prescription drug industry. Through my research, I learned that nearly 7 in 10 Americans are on at least one prescription drug and more than half of Americans take two drugs. It’s a $326 billion industry and growing – that breaks down to an average of $1,459 per person each year or $122 per month. 

Add to that, a frightening trend: many Americans are learning that their drug is no longer covered by their insurance company. Further, those costs may not count against a deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, making it 100% your responsibility. This is one way insurance companies can keep their costs down. If they cover fewer drugs, less comes out of their pocket. The bummer is that more comes out of your pocket. 

Below are 7 ways you might save on your prescriptions…

Click here to read the rest of this article.