Talk About Cheap: Save on Health Care Part II

When we are ill, we wonder whether or not we should be treated by a doctor. Many times, insurance plans have a nurse line that you can call and a professional will help you decide whether to go in or not. But... what do you do if this isn't offered by your insurance or if you don't have insurance?

Try the Symptom Checker on the Mayo Clinic website. It asks you to select a symptom, identify specific factors related to your symptom(s), indicates when seeking medical care from your regular physician would be advisable, which symptoms would require immediate emergency care, and provides you with a list of possible causes. For each cause, the Symptom Checker lists associated factors and symptoms, potential causes, risk factors, how to prepare for your appointment, tests and procedures that may be used to make a diagnosis, complications that may arise if you have this condition, treatments and drugs that may be prescribed, information about how to prevent the condition and, if not dangerous, lifestyle changes and home remedies. While it is a website run by professionals in the medical field, they acknowledge some homeopathic remedies that may help. In the three conditions that I investigated, one indicated immediate medical attention was required and offered no alternative solutions. One suggested an entire alternative treatment program consisting of yoga, massage, meditation, acupuncture, dietary supplements and a TENS unit. The third condition I reviewed offered simple common sense advice like experiment with fiber, drink lots of water, exercise, reduce stress by listening to music reading, or soaking in a warm bath, and get support from your family and friends.

To really save on medical expenses, stay healthy in the first place. This means:

**Eating right (the United States Department of Agriculture offers a customized pyramid plan that tells you the exact amounts of each food groups you need)