Hello friends-with-facial-hair,
tl;dr: This is a list of services that I think can help you get better healthcare for less money. Feel free to add your own!
Extended version:
Healthcare is one of my biggest expenses (insurance, while generally
wise, is *thousands* per year!), but the healthcare world often feels opaque and scary to me. For example, last week, before I was allowed to see my specialist, the receptionist made me sign a form agreeing to pay whatever costs I incurred during my visit, "potentially in the thousands of dollars" or something like that, if my insurance company didn't cover the procedure. In what other industry would it be reasonable to be forced to agree to pay for something that could potentially cost thousands of dollars ... without knowing the price beforehand?!
This is an issue that's been needling me for a while, and I figured the MMM community would be a great place to begin to pool resources ... so I'm starting a thread with tips to get through the healthcare world without breaking the bank.
Below are recommendations for products and services that meet these two criteria: (1) improve care (or at least reach current care standards) and (2) save money. My goal is for this to become a general list of awesome MMM-approved healthcare services, so feel free to reply with your experiences or add your own.
(Caveat: I work in the healthcare technology industry, and the founders of some of these companies are friends. To be safe you should assume I have at least an unconscious conflict of interest with all my recommendations, and in some of the cases (for example Stride) I've worked for a venture capital firm that invested in them and therefore have a direct one. But I swear on my mustache I'm only recommending the ones I think are MMM-worthy!!!)
- GoodRx: Coupons for medications
- Stride: An actually-useful health insurance recommender tool, especially good for freelancers
- Happiness Advantage: This isn't a service but a really awesome TED talk that helps you be happier (which I believe will increase your health and decrease costs over time)
- MDsave: Negotiate the price of a procedure / test *before* you see your MD
- One Medical: White-glove primary care for $250ish per year, with easy appointment setup, labwork done onsite (to save you time), and awesome customer service -- think of the $250 as an investment in your sanity
- Lantern: Many medical issues are really mental health issues in disguise ... this app/coach tool is cheaper and potentially better than an in-person psychologist
- Utilize Health: Find the best MD for your unique brain disorder
- Mango Health: Not taking your pills is one of the quickest ways to ratchet up your future medical spending ... this app helps you keep on track
- PillPack: For people with complicated medication schedules, these folks deliver meds to your door in easy-to-use packets, so you're not fumbling with multiple bottles and timetables
- PatientsLikeMe: Sometimes you just need someone to talk to -- this site is like the MMM forum but for your unique health condition
Woot! Thanks all!
