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| Did You Know? |
Urgent Care Centers can save you hundreds of dollars. If it’s life or limb, hit the ER. Anything else, urgent care will do.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications are FDA-regulated, affordable and sometimes contain the exact same ingredients as
prescription drugs.
Mail-Order Pharmacies can be an inexpensive and convenient option. Sign in to MyGreatWest.com and click on the Pharmacy tab to learn more.
The Outpatient Option often means a lower bill and less recovery time.
Don’t forget – Staying
In-Network can save you a bundle.
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Take Our Quiz |
1. The medical cost of depression goes beyond therapy and medication to include3:
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2. Stress is the initial symptom for what percent of overall health care costs?4
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3. In 2006, what percentage of people with depression reported contacting a mental health professional?5
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Make Your
Health a Priority |
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| When times are tough, cutting back on shopping, travel and gasoline are all smart tactics
for getting ahead and staying there. No matter if you’re on the mend or in tip-top shape, medical care is not the place to pinch pennies. Your health care should always take the lead. This issue of Driver’s Seat coaches you on how to make both your health and your budget a priority. |
DON'T PUT OFF THE PREVENTIVE |
| Avoid postponing checkups, temporarily canceling coverage or skipping a screening. It’s these preventive practices that keep your health in check and your checkbook balanced. Some workplaces and community centers offer free flu shots, blood-pressure tests, and other health screenings. |
AVERAGE COSTS |
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Average cost of a mammogram1 – |
$250 |
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One year of breast cancer treatment2 – |
$35,000 |
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Average cost of a
CT lung scan1 – |
$1,100 |
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One year of lung
cancer treatment2 – |
$75,000 |
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Average cost of cholesterol screening1 – |
$70 |
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Bypass surgery2 – |
$55,000 to $90,000 |
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| Screenings can often detect a disease early and set you on the
path toward early, affordable treatment. |
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Please note that the retail charges presented
are estimates only and may vary significantly
based on health care professional, location
and severity. |
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DON'T PLAY PHARMACIST
Deciding your own dosage might seem to save money in the short-term. But it can also lengthen your medication schedule or delay recovery. There are ways to save safely. Sign into MyGreatWest.com and select the Pharmacy tab to learn more about your over-the-counter, generic and mail-order options. |
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| Roadblocks To Health |
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| Unfortunately, budget woes can lead to stress and depression. When you’re trying to save money, these issues may seem unimportant. But they’re real conditions and if untreated, could lead to further illness. |
DEPRESSION
Thirty-five percent of males and 22 percent of females with depression reported that their symptoms made it very or extremely difficult for them to work, get things done at home or get along with other people5. But it doesn’t stop there. Studies are increasingly linking more illnesses to depression, including osteoporosis6 and heart disease7. |
WHAT TO DO
Sign in to MyGreatWest.com, click on Find a Provider, then select Find a Great-West Healthcare Provider. Choose Search by Medical Condition, then Depression. You’ll find a provider to help you diagnose and treat depression. Not sure if you’re depressed? Sign in to MyGreatWest.com and take our Health Assessment by selecting Health & Wellness under the Wellness tab. |
STRESS
Stress is often overlooked. Aren’t we all a little stressed, after all? Research shows that when you’re chronically stressed, you’re much more likely to become sick, especially if you’re ignoring the symptoms. |
WHAT TO DO
Sign in to MyGreatWest.com. Under the Wellness tab, select Health and Wellness, then Healthy Living Programs. Our Stress Relief program can get you started, effectively and affordably, on managing your stress.
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| 1 |
Costs determined by Great-West Healthcare, now part of CIGNA, claims data and medical research in conjunction with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. |
| 2 |
“Hospital Charges Explained”, AHA Advancing Health in America, www.aha.org, 2003 |
| 3 |
“The High Monetary Cost of Untreated Depression”, December 13, 2007, www.savingadvice.com |
| 4 |
”Stress Costs”, David Straker, June 26th, 2005, www.changingminds.org |
| 5 |
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2006, www.cdc.gov |
| 6 |
“Depression Linked to Bone-Thinning in Pre-Menopausal Women”, National Institute of Mental Health Study, November 26th, 2007, www.nimh.nih.gov |
| 7 |
“Depression Linked to Early Heart Disease”, Feb. 6, 2007, www.myheartcentral.com |
Legal disclosures
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