Ways to cut health care costs

Headlines these past few months seem to have something in common: Costs have been on the rise, making essential items in people’s monthly budgets, such as health care and medications, tougher to afford.

So when it comes to the health of those of us in Central Florida, how can we meet these challenges to keep us healthy so we can take care not only of ourselves but our families and communities?

Health care costs have been affecting our wallets for decades, rising exponentially year after year for what sometimes feels like less available options to us. For those individuals and families with insurance, high-deductible health plans are now the norm. High-deductible health insurance plans often require the consumer to pay a thousand or more dollars out of pocket, with the out-of-pocket cost reaching upwards of $10,000 in some cases when you include dependents.

This means that you must hit that out-ofpocket fee before insurance will kick in and pick up any of your costs; you’re paying 100% of your costs, including medications.

The trouble is 78% of those people won’t meet their out-of-pocket deductibles. Consumers paid a staggering $433.2 billion on out-of-pocket health care costs in 2021, and Americans spent $67 billion on out-ofpocket medications last year.

What’s more is we’re still struggling to pay for essential items like lifesaving medications. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control found that 9.2 million adults reported not taking medications as prescribed due to the cost.

Instead of following doctors’ orders, people are opting to stop taking their medication altogether, or cutting down on their dose to lengthen the time between refills, which can seriously reduce the efficacy of the drug and cause adverse health effects. Even if people opt to use less-expensive generic drug options when available, many families still have a hard time paying for other essential items like groceries.

No one should have to choose between paying for one essential need over another. For those without insurance, accessing health care can be an even larger hurdle.

There are more than 322,000 uninsured Central Floridians in Polk, Orange and Osceola counties, according to the 2021 census. Orange, Polk and Volusia counties are some of the highest uninsured counties in the state. A 2019 study of the region found that 45% of Central Floridians have challenges accessing affordable health care. These are unfortunate and alarming statistics for the City Beautiful and its neighbors.

So to meet these challenges head-on, the strongest weapon citizens have in their arsenal is education. How are we supposed to better ourselves if we aren’t aware of the opportunities and resources available to us?

For starters, Central Floridians should be aware of their alternative health options to which they have access. There are patient assistant programs like Rx Assistance Programs, co-pay assistance programs and free-to-use discount pharmacy cards like Visory Health that all work to help people find affordable medication (up to 80% off in some cases) so they can take it as prescribed and stay healthy.

For discount cards, before even filling a prescription, people can check drug pricing so they know if they can afford that drug. If it’s too expensive, they can speak to their pharmacist or doctor about seeing if a less-expensive option is available. In some cases, paying for medication out of pocket may make more sense than using insurance, so it is always best to vet all options before deciding.

The rising health care cost problem doesn’t fall exclusively on consumers either. It’s also the responsibility of health care providers, pharmacists, and physicians to understand the rapidly changing landscape and resources available to better serve their communities. Knowing which options would best fit their patients’ needs can positively impact health outcomes.

A demand for transparency and fairness in the health care industry is undeniably forming nationwide. The priority of pharmaceutical manufacturers and supplies should be focused on building healthier communities.

We all know health care in America is a complex and confusing system to truly understand. We need improved drug-pricing transparency that will help consumers effectively incorporate drug costs into their budgets.

Central Florida is one of many communities with challenges accessing affordable health care, but with greater understanding, awareness and resources we can create healthier futures and set the example of being the change we want to see.