Anyone who is self-employed has had to face the insurance conundrum. Do you spend an arm and leg to insure yourself (since there’s no corporate umbrella to absorb a portion of the cost) or do you risk losing an actual arm or leg because you can’t afford the cost of medical care without insurance?
While there are certainly benefits to being self-employed, such as working from home, setting your own schedule, and taking only the jobs you want, one of the major drawbacks of freelancing or staring your own company is that the cost of medical and dental falls squarely on your shoulders. Luckily, there are a few ways to cut back on these costs.
Here’s how to save when you’re self-employed:
Preventive care
There is no better way to dispel the costs of medical and dental procedures than to continue practicing preventive care. Early detection is often the key to ensuring that health issues never get to a critical (and expensive) stage. So whether or not you have insurance, try to find a way to keep up with your annual visits (physicals, dental cleanings, and so on), especially if you have a family (or personal) history of problems.
Pay in cash
Many doctors and dentists are sympathetic to patients that lose their job or insurance (often both) and can’t afford to pay for treatment at full price. Some are even willing to make concessions if you pay in cash as a way to keep you on track with your health. So if your doctor or dentist might normally charge the insurance company $100 for your visit, they’ll allow you to pay as little as half when you offer cash. Simply ask at your doctor and dentist offices to see if they’re willing to make such an arrangement.
Shop around
You comparison shop for everything from cars to jeans to canned vegetables, so why wouldn’t you do the same with doctors? While it’s true that visiting a physician is a rather intimate experience, the truth is that you’re going to be poked and prodded one way or another. So look into prices and how they vary from private practices to hospital staff to clinics; you’re bound to find something in your price range that suits your medical and dental needs, and you may be eligible to pay on a sliding fee scale (or even get services for free).
Prescription assistance
Even after you visit the doctor or dentist, you’re bound to be on the hook for additional costs thanks to prescription medication. Some people can save by going for the generic brand while others will order via apps or the internet (finding the best cost locally or getting medication from other countries where it may be sold cheaper). But if you simply can’t afford the cost of medications that you need in order to survive, look for prescription assistance programs that operate on donations (government, private, or other) so that you get the prescriptions you need at low or no out-of-pocket cost.
Discount plans
There are companies out there that offer individuals like yourself both medical and dental discount plans. You won’t pay much for membership (generally up to about $30 per month) and the plans will cover as much as 60% of your costs. This is a good way to ensure that you won’t be tanked by potentially costly problems, without spending a boatload on pricy insurance that you may never use.
Evan Fischer is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
