Prosperity Trek by Prosperity Concierge » Health Care Costs http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek The trek to prosperity, step by step. Improve cash flow, build net worth, enjoy life and give back. To earn, spend, save and invest for happiness and fulfillment. Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:20:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/ en hourly 1 Health Savings Accounts – How to Compare http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/health-savings-accounts-compare/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/health-savings-accounts-compare/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:28:00 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9487 A health savings account, or HSA, is exactly what the name implies: a financial account that can be used to save money for future medical expenses. These accounts, combined with a high-deductible health insurance plan, also offer certain income tax breaks that make them even more attractive.

But which health savings account offers the best deal?

The

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]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/health-savings-accounts-compare/feed/ 0 Your Lifestyle is the Most Important Consideration When Deciding Whether to Rent or Buy a Home http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/retirement-how-to/lifestyle-important-consideration-deciding-rent-buy-home/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/retirement-how-to/lifestyle-important-consideration-deciding-rent-buy-home/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:53:26 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=9484 When deciding whether to rent or buy a home the most important criteria to consider is lifestyle.

If you’re traveling a lot, you may not want to be tied down to a house. Even if you tend to stay close to home it’s likely you’ll begin to tire of home maintenance chores within the next decade

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]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/enjoying-how-to/retirement-how-to/lifestyle-important-consideration-deciding-rent-buy-home/feed/ 0 Preventative Medicine – Use Screening Tests to Save Money http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/preventative-medicine-screening-tests-save-money/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/preventative-medicine-screening-tests-save-money/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:17:14 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=7612 Preventative medicine is an investment in the quality of your life. Not only does it decrease the probability of a future serious illness but it also substantially reduces your future health care costs.

Heart disease, diabetes and cancer contribute to a large number of illnesses, disabilities and deaths. They’re also some of the most costly conditions

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]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/preventative-medicine-screening-tests-save-money/feed/ 1 Low Premium For Your Health Care? http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/low-premium-health-care/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/low-premium-health-care/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:42:04 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=6661 When you have low premiums for your health care you give up a lot of expensive medical coverage – you are self insuring more as you transfer the risk from the insurer to yourself.

To protect your assets, it’s important that your insurance policies give you enough coverage in case something horrible happens to you or

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]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/low-premium-health-care/feed/ 0 How to Live Longer and Healthier http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/live-longer-healthier/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/live-longer-healthier/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:44:07 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=5032 There are several regions in the world long-known as having high rates of people who live to be 100 or older.  These areas are known for having people who are healthier and, consequently, have high longevity rates.   Included in the list is Okinawa, Japan, the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica and the Greek island of

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]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/live-longer-healthier/feed/ 0 Negotiate to Reduce Medical Expenses http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/negotiate-reduce-medical-expenses/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/negotiate-reduce-medical-expenses/#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:08:22 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=2056 Only 10 percent of patients try to reduce their medical expenses by negotiating with hospital or doctor. However, research shows that 60 percent of those who do negotiate are successful in getting a discount.

Hospitals and doctors are able and willing to negotiate because their posted prices bear little resemblance to their actual expenses.

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]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/negotiate-reduce-medical-expenses/feed/ 0 Do Your Research to Cut Your Health Care Spending http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/research-cut-health-care-spending/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/research-cut-health-care-spending/#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:59:55 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/?p=2039 To cut your health care costs do your research to find out what care and preventative measures are truly necessary.

You can skip unnecessary scans and elective plastic surgery. However, it’s important to get recommended screening tests for cancer and other diseases, as well as immunizations that can prevent illnesses like the flu.

Visit the Agency

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]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/research-cut-health-care-spending/feed/ 0 Health Care Resources http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/resources/health-care-resources/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/resources/health-care-resources/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:27:07 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/health-care-resources-2/ Visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and click on Prevention and Wellness for health care prevention tips.

Also visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality U.S. Preventative Services Task Force’s recommended tests to get the government’s latest recommendations, including how often to get your blood pressure checked and when to have

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]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/resources/health-care-resources/feed/ 0 Healthy Lifestyle to Lower Health Care Costs http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/stay-healthy-to-reduce-health-care-spending/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/stay-healthy-to-reduce-health-care-spending/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:26:22 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/stay-healthy-to-reduce-health-care-spending/ Save money by taking care of yourself. Save health care dollars by spending a relatively small amount by making these lifestyle changes:

1. Take the preventative tests appropriate for your age and gender. Visit Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and click on Prevention and Wellness for more info.

2. Take your prescribed medication.

3. Floss.

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]]> http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/stay-healthy-to-reduce-health-care-spending/feed/ 0 How to Buy Health Care Insurance http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/health-care-insurance/ http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/spending-how-to/health-care-costs-how-to/health-care-insurance/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:24:47 +0000 Prosperity Concierge http://prosperityconcierge.com/trek/trek-how-to/health-care-insurance/ In 1950 health care accounted for 4% of consumer spending. In 2004 it accounted for 17%, as much as food and clothing combined (Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2005).

The problem is that health coverage is tougher to acquire by traditional means. In 2007 only 60% of Americans had health coverage through an employer health

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