How to save money on your next medical bill.

Everyone has medical bills. Regardless of how old, healthy, or wealthy you are, you’ve probably gotten childhood vaccines and/or visited the dentist at some point in your life. These healthcare expenses can rack up surprisingly quickly, especially in the event of an accident or sudden illness. But don’t worry, there’s actually a number of simple things you can do to keep your medical costs low. We found a great list of money-saving tricks on Healthline.com and summarized the best ones for you below.

• Hunt for deals. Prices for services and prescriptions aren’t as standardized as you might think. The cost of a procedure or medication can vary across providers, so be sure to phone around and get the best deal.
• Request a discount. Once you’ve found the lowest price you can uncover even more savings by asking your doctor for a discount. According to Healthline.com procedures and visit fees can be reduced at their discretion, especially if you have demonstrated financial need or are a long-time client.
• Find coupons online. From time to time drug manufacturers will post coupons on their websites, so Healthline.com suggests checking there especially if you take a certain medication often.
• Ask about alternatives. Sometimes you can save money by taking generic or over-the-counter medicine instead of the brand name equivalent. Always first ask your healthcare provider if it’s safe for you to switch medications, though.
• Have it mailed. If your health coverage includes delivery of prescription drugs in the mail, you can save money by getting larger quantities of medication sent to your doorstep.
• Follow professional advice. Taking your medicine as prescribed and committing to the lifestyle changes your doctor recommends will keep you healthy and save you from increased health-related expenses in the long run.

More ways to reduce healthcare costs

These are just a few things you can do to save money on healthcare expenses. Click here to see the full list of strategies on Healthline.com. LifeSpeak also offers a number of online financial resources that you can access through your account, or by clicking here.

Originally published at LifeSpeak.