If you or someone in your family has asthma, you’re not alone. Today, about 1 in 12 people have this chronic lung disease that causes coughing, wheezing and overall difficulty breathing, and the number of people with asthma continues to grow.
Even though it’s a common chronic condition, treatment isn’t cheap for asthma. It usually includes a combination of inhalers, pills and nasal sprays. According to The New York Times, it can be difficult or impossible to get generic versions of some asthma medications. And, medical expenses can add up to about $3,300 per patient each year, totaling $56 billion nationally, according to the most recent report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Plus, there’s the indirect cost. On average, kids with asthma miss four days of school, and adults miss five days of work, according to the CDC. One study estimates these costs at about $300 per employee, and $93 for students. You can multiply the cost by five for severe asthma, because of extra doctor visits, emergency room visits and the occasional overnight hospital stay.
The bottom line – making asthma care a financial priority can save you money in the long haul.
A Good Insurance Plan Can Save You Money
Instead of paying the full cost of care, a good insurance plan will help you pay for the things you need to keep your condition in check. As with all medical expenses, you’ll still be responsible for copayments or coinsurance. But, the cost-sharing between you and your insurance company will save you thousands in the long run.
Even with insurance, it can add up. Depending on your coverage, after your deductible, you may still be responsible for up to $1,000 or more a year out of pocket on prescriptions, specialist visits and the occasional trip to an urgent care center.
Some insurance plans offer special resources for patients with chronic conditions such as asthma to help them manage their condition and expenses. For example, Priority Health has nurse case managers who can answer questions, provide support and help you navigate the system.
Create an Asthma Action Plan
An asthma action plan can help you keep your symptoms under control. But when budgets are tight, it’s tempting to save money by skimping on treatment.
Don’t risk it. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’re much more likely to have an asthma attack, which can be devastating to your health and your finances.
The financial implications of an asthma attack will take your breath away long after you’ve recovered. If you add up the cost of an emergency room visit, hospital stay, increased asthma treatments and missed days at work, it’s going to make a dent in your personal budget. Plus, ignoring asthma can be deadly. More than 3,000 people die from severe attacks each year.
Money-saving tips
Consider these ideas to reduce the cost of your treatment:
- Ask if you can save with generic prescriptions or a mail-order pharmacy. Priority Health, for example, offers a web tool to help you manage your drug costs by allowing you to compare prices.
- Tell your doctor if money is a problem. Your doctor may be willing to prescribe older, tried-and-true medications that cost less but are still effective.
- When you need to use brand-name drugs, search online for coupons.
- Eliminate and avoid asthma triggers to stay healthier.
Although there’s no way to avoid the cost of asthma entirely, sticking with an asthma action plan and a little bargain hunting may help.
