Study Finds Consumers Who Make Good Health Care Decisions Can Save Enough to Pay Majority of Child's College Education

MINNEAPOLIS, April 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans who make wise decisions on their health insurance purchases and health care expenses can save enough money over a ten year period to fund college education for their children, reports a new study.

HealthValues, the first-of-its-kind online resource for supplemental insurance and health care products, today released a free consumer guide that outlines how one typical family can save tens-of-thousands of dollars on medical expenses. Using eight different scenarios, Dr. April Seifert, author of Your Consumer Mindset is Your Biggest Weapon in the War on Rising Health Care Costs, walks readers through the various stages of health care decision making, and how much a typical family can save on expenses throughout the year.

"The health care system is frustrating and confusing, yet everyone needs to use health care at some point in their lives," said Dr. April Seifert, data analysis expert for HealthValues. "The best way for consumers to save money on health care is to gain a better understanding of how the industry works so they can make educated decisions when it comes to using their health insurance, buying prescription drugs and accessing medical care for the best price."

In the guide Dr. Seifert outlines eight illustrations of how one family can obtain more than $22,000 in health care savings during the course of one year. The scenarios include: shopping for health insurance each year instead of auto-enrolling in the same plan, adding a health savings account, using free preventive care, planning for elective surgeries after a medical deductible is met, using transparency tools to get affordable care, using telemedicine services instead of urgent care, enrolling in drug company programs for specialty medications, and filling health insurance deductible gaps with supplemental insurance coverage.

"Would you purchase a car without knowing what it costs? Of course not. But when it comes to health care, many are not aware how much medical services cost or what savings programs are available to them," said Dr. Seifert. "This guide arms consumers with information on how money-saving supplemental products can help lower out-of-pocket expenses, while educating them how to become savvy users of the health care system."

The founder of HealthValues, Jeff Smedsrud, is a long time health care entrepreneur and advocate for improved tools and resources to help consumers make better health-related purchasing decisions.  

"Our program combines tools consumers can use, along with unlimited doctor consults via telephone or video, along with 24 hour a day access to consumer advocates and supplemental insurance for accidents and illnesses, all in one bundled package," Smedsrud said. "It is the new way for consumers with high deductibles to manage their cash flow."

Download this free 18-page HealthValues consumer guide at www.healthvalues.org.

About HealthValues
Launched in 2016, HealthValues is the first online company to help consumers at the intersection of health care and health insurance with money-saving supplemental insurance and health care benefits. Membership benefits start at $29.99 each month and include a 30-day free-look period. To find out more visit www.healthvalues.org.

Contact: Colleen McGuire | 651-338-8822 | [email protected]

SOURCE HealthValues

Related Links

http://www.healthvalues.org