Outreach Online -Fall 2009

Healthy Living

Q Can I cut back on preventive care to save money?

A You can’t afford not to get preventive care. At a bare minimum, you need to keep up with checkups and immunizations.

If you catch something early, you might be able to control the disease process with only lifestyle modifications or just one medication. You can prevent comorbidities that require more extensive care. The cost of a preventive doctor’s visit and labs or screenings is a lot less than the cost of these services plus additional tests, care and possible hospitalizations.

Plus, don’t use bad judgement, such as poor eating habits or not following up with chronic conditions, in order to deal with the stress of the economic downturn. Saving money on the front end will cost you more on the back end. We can’t afford to take our health for granted.

Dr. Brandon Hider

Brandon Hider, M.D.
Family Practitioner at Ochsner Health Center – Kenner
(Driftwood Blvd.)

FIND a primary care doctor near you.

KEEP up-to-date on the latest H1N1
and seasonal flu information.

Investment Advice

Get a flu shot and save $300 or more

You could invest in a flu shot this year for about $30. Or, says Dr. Hider, you could spend a lot more to “catch the flu, have a doctor visit, get the test to confirm the flu and fill two prescriptions.” Add in missed work, possible complications and the other members of your household who get sick, and you’ve lost a lot of money. Compare the costs* of a simple case of the flu:

Office visit	$99.00
Flu test	$94.00
antiviral: Tamiflu, five-day treatment	$90.00
Prescription cough syrup	$15.00
Decongestant: Sudafed PE, 36 ct.	$7.99
Pain reliever/fever reducer: Advil tablets, 100 ct.	$9.49
Tissues: Kleenex, 180 ct.	$2.39
Disinfectant: Lysol Sanitizing Wipes, 36 ct.	$3.99
Chicken soup: Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup, 10.7 oz.	$1.49
Total	$323.35

*actual out-of-pocket costs will vary by insurance plan

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