Health Insurance Values » Ways to save
50+ ways you can save 
Make sure you're covered ... or begin to plan ahead
If you are thinking of starting a family, contact your agent to make sure your insurance policy includes maternity benefits . . . or, it may be wiser to start saving for the cost of a routine pregnancy. The cost of a well-baby delivery may range from $2,000 to $5,000. If there are any complications, most insurance plans begin to pay the expenses. Check what your plan will cover. It may be more economical to forego full maternity coverage, which can cost $200 to $500 per month and has waiting periods. Then save the extra money each month and shop for the best, most effective care. But whatever you choose, don't skip routine and regular visits to an obstetrician during pregnancy.
Get regular mammograms
Studies have shown that women over the age of 40 need yearly mammograms to detect cancerous masses or cists. The cost of mammograms is covered by insurance, and many hospitals offer incentives programs at lower rates to encourage women's health. The early detection of a mass can avoid thousands of dollars in surgery and recovery. If a mass is detected, most offices/hospitals perform outpatient surgery, saving in overnight hospital fees. In addition to yearly check-ups, home breast exams are part of the process in achieving good health.
Avoid sunburn
Exposure to the sun can cause serious damage, leading to dermatology visits for discoloration to skin cancer. We receive most of the sun damage to our skin as children. Reducing your child's unprotected exposure to the sun will help to decrease the chance of premature aging and reduce the risk of skin cancer. Sunlight can actually change the color of your skin permanently, leaving a "blotchy" effect. Believe it or not, one bad sunburn can cause skin cancer. Always cover your body in the sunshine and invest in SPF 30 sun block for those family outdoor events.
No smoking during pregnancy and beyond
Many tests have shown that smoking mothers deliver more premature babies. The costs of delivering an infant prematurely skyrocket when compared with the costs of a normal delivery. These increased costs include the need for special incubators, heart monitors, and respirators. In addition, children born prematurely may require more health care during early childhood.
Emotional stability
Your mental health is equally important as your physical health. Do you have blue days once in awhile, or struggle with gray winters? St. John's Wort, an over-the-counter herbal supplement, has been proven to increase positive moods. Before rushing to your family physician for medication to make you feel better, try supplements with a combination of expressing your feelings with friends and a healthy lifestyle.
Mood stabilizers are some of the most costly medications on the market today. However, you should be aware of the signs of stress or even depression. Give yourself a simple screening test:
• Do you have feelings of sadness and/or irritability?
• Has there been a loss of interest in pleasure activities you once enjoyed?
• Have there been changes in your weight or appetite?
• Have you noticed changes in your sleeping pattern?
• Are you feeling guilty?
• Having problems concentrating, remembering or making decisions?
• Are you fatigued or have a loss of energy?
• Do you experience restlessness or decreased activity noticed by others?
• Do you have feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness?
• Do you have thoughts of suicide or death?
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, consider consulting your family physician. If they recommend mental health treatment, it is more cost-effective to have your family physician prescribe mood stabilizers instead of seeing a psychiatrist. However, follow your doctor's instructions on counseling and referrals to mental health professionals.
Use a hospital that offers incentives
Many hospitals are looking for ways to promote their maternity wings, and offer a variety of incentives to new families, including free lease of infant car seats, baby clothes, special sibling programs, and overnight stays for the father and siblings. Take advantage of these special services.
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