HealthyLife Articles

Tag: cost

Improve Your Home

FINANCIAL HEALTH

Owning a home is a big investment. Regular maintenance and improvement projects help protect your asset and keep it in top condition. These home projects are the best bang for your buck.

Freshen up the paint

A new coat of paint, both inside and out, can make your home look up to date and appealing. It’s an inexpensive way to transform any room, and it’s easy to do yourself.

Update fixtures

Outlet covers, switch plates, light fixtures, and door knobs are simple to replace and make great finishing touches. These minor details really stand out.

Kitchen cabinets

Kitchen remodels are one of the priciest home upgrades. If that is outside your budget, don’t worry. Instead, refresh your existing kitchen cabinets with a more modern paint color or stain.

Install crown molding

This task takes a bit of know-how, but it’s a simple cosmetic improvement that boosts the appearance of the interior. Crown molding makes rooms look pulled together and complete.

Replace front door

Your front door can make a big statement. If the door is worn out, old, or just plain boring, replace it with one that has a fresh, updated color.

Clean up the landscaping

The exterior of your home is the first thing people see. A well-cared-for yard and tidy landscaping set the tone for everything else. Keep planting beds free of weeds and well-mulched.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Save Money On Prescriptions

FINANCIAL HEALTH

FACT: New drugs are protected by patents. After the patent expires, other companies can make a generic version of the drug.

Knowing about generic drugs can save you money on prescriptions. Tell your doctor or pharmacist you want a generic drug if possible.

If your prescription is expensive, speak up. Sometimes there’s an alternative that costs less but is still safe.

Be wary of places that promise free or cheap prescriptions. It may be a scam. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about free or low-cost prescription programs.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Choose Benefit Options With Both Cost And Care In Mind

Medical Care

* Signing up for the same plan as the one you have is easy, but spending time to find out about all options could be worth it. Ask your employer for written materials for your options or how to access the information online.

* Estimate what your costs for the coming year will be using each option. Your company’s or insurance company’s website may have tools to help you do this.

* Consider a flexible spending account (FSA) to help pay for health care expenses. It also offers tax advantages. To determine how much to put into an FSA, add up out-of-pocket costs you expect to pay for the coming year. These include co-pays, deductibles, cost for eyeglasses, contact lenses, etc.

* The best deal may not be the cheapest plan, but the one that gives the best price for the benefits you are most likely to use.

* Find out if you can lower your health care premium costs by taking part in certain wellness and disease management programs offered through work.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Choose A Therapist

Mental Health Care

The following questions can help you determine whether or not a mental health counselor fits your needs.

* Do they accept your health insurance?

* How much will you have to pay?

* Do they have the education, credentials, and recent training to treat you?

* Is the therapist licensed?

* How quickly can you be seen by the therapist?

* How can you get in touch with the therapist between appointments?

* Will they refer you to someone else if you need additional help?

* Can they prescribe medicine?

* Can they admit you to a hospital or treatment center?

* What hospitals or treatment centers do they have privileges in?

* What will you have to do during treatment? What will they do?

* Do people whom you trust recommend this therapist?

* What type of client do they feel they work best with?

* Does the therapist limit his/her practice to a specific type of client (children, women, family)?

* What type of treatment approach does the therapist use?

* What kind of experience have they had with a problem like yours?

* Do they offer group and/or family sessions? n How long (typically) will you need to see a counselor for problems similar to yours?

* How far do you have to travel to see the counselor?

* Do they have an appointment time that works for you?

* How much advance notice is needed to reschedule or cancel a session?

* Will you still be charged if you can’t make your scheduled session regardless of the reason?

Also consider the type of therapist you think you would prefer.

* Would you be more comfortable with a man or woman?

* Is the counselor’s age a factor? Would you prefer someone older or younger than you?

* Does it matter to you whether or not the counselor is married, with or without children?

* Is the counselor’s ethnicity or sexual orientation a factor?

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Save By Staying Healthy. Prevention Is Worth More Than A Pound Of Cure.

Medical Care

* Choose healthy foods. Control portion sizes. Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic diseases, which can be very expensive to treat. Persons who are obese may be charged more for life and health insurance.

* Be fit at little or no cost. Walk with a friend. Join a mall walkers program.

* If you smoke, quit! You’ll save money on cigarettes, health care, and insurance. Get free help from 800.QUIT. NOW orsmokefree.gov.

* Take part in health risk assessments and health and wellness offerings at work.

* Wash your hands often to lessen the chance of picking up germs.

* Brush and floss your teeth daily. Get a dental checkup once or twice a year. Doing these help prevent periodontal (gum) disease. Not only is it expensive to treat, it is associated with heart disease and pneumonia.

* Get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Manage stress.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Save Money On Medications

Medication

* Find out if medications are no longer needed and/or if you could reduce your need of any medication through lifestyle changes.

* Take a list of the medications that your health plan prefers (formulary) to office visits.

* Ask if one medication can replace the work of two or three.

* Ask for free samples and/or a prescription for a few days’ supply to find out if the medicine works for you before you pay for a full prescription.

* Ask your doctor or pharmacist if lower-cost options exist, either in a generic form (co-pays for generics cost less, too), a less expensive brand-name drug, or an over-the-counter (OTC) drug.

* Ask your doctor if it would save money to prescribe pills that could be cut in half.

* Use a mail order pharmacy for prescribed medicines you take on a regular basis. You can usually get a 3-month supply for the same cost that you would pay for a 30 day supply at a drug store.

* Shop around for the lowest costs. Compare costs from your pharmacy, large chain pharmacies, and grocery and retail stores that have pharmacies. Use Web sites that compare prices for prescription medicines.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026