Tech innovations can mean health care savings for you. Some are immediate, like less costly telehealth visits. Others may not seem obvious at first, like lower admin costs that let your doctor spend more time with you. You can track or prevent many health conditions through your smartphone or wearable device. This makes managing them easier and less expensive. Benefits include early detection, when problems are less expensive to treat.
Tap Into Telehealth Visits
Remote doctor visits save you money (and time) on travel to the office and may help you avoid the expense of a trip to the ER. Since you don’t have to go in person, you’re more likely to keep these appointments. In some areas, telehealth providers partner with caregivers who make home visits. They can help with procedures like infusions or post-surgery checkups.
Go to the Portal Instead of the Office
Patient portals let you review your medical records and become more involved in your own care. They can also be an inexpensive way to ask questions, request medication refills, and report health issues between appointments. In most cases, this is a free service. But according to the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, about 13% of people over 50 report getting a charge or copay, so be sure to ask up front.
Boost Your Health With Apps
It’s less expensive to prevent a chronic condition than to treat one, so health-oriented apps can boost your bank account too. There are more than 100,000 to choose from. One study on dieting found that using an app boosts the amount you can lose regardless of which diet you follow. Fitness apps can track your heart rate to keep you in the right zone for your age. Mindfulness apps can ease stress, which is at the root of many chronic conditions.
Keep Track of Chronic Conditions on Your Phone
Specific apps can help you better manage health conditions. For example, some can monitor your heart rate for conditions like heart failure or arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Some work with wearable devices and relay information to your doctor’s office. They can send alerts to your provider about any possible problems brewing, That can translate to fewer doctor visits and expensive complications.
Use Rx Apps to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs
Prescription drug plans don’t always cover all medications. When this happens, medication apps can come in handy. You can enter the drug name, dose, and quantity. The app will give you a list of local pharmacies where the cost might be more affordable. Note that paying outside of insurance won’t count toward the deductible but still save you money.
Track Health Stats With Wearables
Wearing a device to track a specific health condition may save you money. They can help you avoid doctor visits or trips to the ER. For example, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) makes it easier to manage blood sugar levels and avoids the cost of finger sticks. There are also devices to watch over blood pressure, arrhythmias, heart failure, and COPD. Many will send readings directly to your doctor’s office for review.
Text Messages Keep You on Track
Health-based text messages are a new way for care providers to share information and help you better manage a condition. The texts can be simple and effective medication reminders. Texting is yet another way to ask questions outside of appointments — no more “phone tag.”
AI Will Lead to Better Outcomes and Savings
Advances in AI can indirectly save you money by helping your care team find and fix problems early. AI can improve diagnosis by analyzing billions of pieces of data and making predictions based on symptoms and other markers. AI-based monitoring can review test results and alert your doctor to possible problems. Behind the scenes, it can handle administrative tasks so your doctor can focus on patients.
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