3 Surprising Ways To Save Money On Medical Supplies

By JP Monteverde September 04, 2017

As Americans, we spend an awful lot on healthcare. Even if you have excellent insurance coverage, you may end up spending quite a bit out of pocket for the equipment you need. In fact, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that retail spending on durable medical equipment (which includes contact lenses, eyeglasses, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and more) reached $48.5 billion in 2015. It's quite likely, then, that you'll be looking for some tips on how to save money on these medical supplies. Below are just three ways you may be able to reduce your costs andget the supplies you require.

Shop Online
One of the best ways to save money on these products is to shop with a medical supply store online. That's because these medical suppliers have access to higher quantities of the same products you'll find in a pharmacy or a brick-and-mortar medical supply store. The fact that they're able to buy in bulk means that you'll be able to purchase these items at much lower prices than you'll find elsewhere. You can often get free catheters and samples of other medical supplies through these online stores. In many cases, you'll simply need to fill out a form or call a customer service line and your free catheters will be sent right to your door.
Buy Used
Granted, there are several types of medical supplies (like the free catheters you can get online) that cannot be safely be reused. But there are actually many kinds of equipment that you can buy second-hand to save. For example, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, foot stools, scooters, and other devices can be purchased on used equipment sites for up to half off the original price. You may even luck out at a yard sale. Of course, these purchases may not come with any guarantees, but if your budget doesn't have much room, it doesn't hurt to look here first.
Talk To Your Doctor
Believe it or not, your doctor may actually be able to get you a deal on the supplies you need. Because many suppliers offer discounts to medical professionals, you may be able to make arrangements with your doctor to have your equipment shipped to their office. Not every physician may be able to agree, but many will try to make sure you can get what you need at a price you can afford. Keep in mind that a supplier may require proof of certification before they'll extend lower pricing to you.

While we may be used to paying more for medical care here in the United States, that doesn't mean that there aren't ways to cut costs. It may take a little bit of ingenuity, but that extra effort will pay off when you're able to get the supplies you need at a much more affordable price.

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