For some reason you don’t hear about it much in the mainstream media. But three things are happening that, when combined, could be a big concern for our American healthcare system…

• The population is getting comparatively older
• Our life expectancy is increasing
• There are currently not enough doctors

We’re Getting Old

Starting with the first point above… According to the U.S. government, 20 percent of the U.S. population, or 71.5 million people, will be over 65 by the year 2030 compared to 37 million senior Americans in 2006.

Wow. That’s an increase of 48 percent.

We Live Longer

On to the second point above… Americans are living longer and longer. Since 1950 life expectancy for men and women has climbed every decade. 

Here are the numbers for the men…
1950: 65 years
1960: 67 years
1970: 68 years
1980: 70 years
1990: 72 years
2000: 74 years
2010: ???

Where Are All the Doctors?

Moving on to the third point above… We can’t provide doctors with licenses fast enough. The U.S. will have about 750,000 doctors by 2025, about 159,000 fewer than it needs, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Specialists in various disciplines are lacking. For example, the State of New York reported last month that seven of its counties had no practicing obstetricians. At the same time, the state announced it was going to provide $11.06 million in funding over five years, to be used specificially to aid physicians with repayment of qualified medical school loans in exchange for a minimum five-year commitment to practice in an underserved area of New York state.

News reports out of Austin last week reported a severe doctor shortage in central Texas. Other states are dealing with similar issues.

More Medical Students Are Now Enrolling

The good news is that the number of accredited medical schools in the U.S. is growing. Four new schools this year should bring the number to 130. Four or five more schools should begin educating medical students in 2010 or 2011.

And enrollment at medical schools is apparently at an all-time high, according to the Associated Press, which reported last month that 42,231 people applied to U.S. medical schools in 2008, and 18,036 enrolled.

Is A National Crisis Avoidable?

The question is:  will this trend of educating more new doctors continue, and will the rate of their introduction into the workforce be enough to handle all of our U.S. seniors? You’ve got to figure that, as the age of the population skews towards the seniors, a good number of senior doctors will be retiring as well.

This is definitely a situation to monitor indefinitely.

Brian Bujdos

At some point, health care is a mandatory expense for everyone. The hard part is figuring out when "some point" will happen, or perhaps, when it should happen in the name of preventative medicine. 

Of course, it’s not only preventative medicine that may take a back seat in the budget during tough economic times. Sometimes, even more necessary elements of personal health care are cut back or eliminated… things like certain medications or treatments/therapies. 

Even if there’s not a lot of money to go around, the key is to be an educated consumer who can get the most of the money that is available. And, regardless of your budget, there are many things you can do to save money on health care without necessarily compromising your health.

Using various sources, AccessRx.com has compiled some of the easier, more tangible ways to save money on health care. Following are nine examples, but you can find more in the health-related links listed below…

1. Do not take "No" for an answer if you believe you are entitled to benefits. Fight claim denials. One source says 70 percent of claim denials are overturned. It can’t hurt to fight for benefits if denied.

2. Shop for a plan and bargain down rates. Depending on your health conditions, find a plan that is right for you (high-deductible, etc.) and also either bargain your rates or payments down. Hospitals will often work with you on payment plans, and there are even firms that will bargain on your behalf – without taking your money unless they get you results. A Harris Interactive poll found that three in five patients who negotiated with their doctors (made them aware of hardship, etc.) received discounts.

3. Ask your doctor to prescribe you a higher dosage in milligrams, if available, and then split your pills. Oftentimes, a 10mg pill costs the same as a 20mg pill, etc. So you can save 50% on prescription meds, if your doctor OKs.

4. Search around for free tests and shots, etc. You can get free or reduced-fee flu shots, PAP smears, mammograms (visit the National Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program website), prostate exams (find the NPCC’s free national mobile screening tour), vaccines (see the Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program), cholesterol screening, diabetes screening, diabetic supplies, psychiatric counseling (contact your local department of mental health), drug/alcohol rehabilitation, and more. It just takes research.

5. Look at your consumption. You can eat healthier (less) and also cut back on items such as cigarettes and booze that will ultimately cause health problems anyway. "Investing" in your health doesn’t cost a penny, and you save the beer money, not a bad idea.

6. Take advantage of extras. Some plans offer nurses on call 24/7 for instance. They may be able to help you reduce visits to urgent care, etc. Some plans offer discounts on gym memberships and weight-loss programs because it ultimately saves the provider money.

7. Educate yourself. This one is far-reaching, but an educated consumer saves money. For instance, read bills carefully (duplicate or unverifiable charges, etc.), pay attention to everything that deals with your health care, including covered services and medications, etc. Certain services and medicines are often covered at different levels. Before services are rendered, call your provider to ask how much they will cost. You may be able to space them out.

Bring a list of covered medicines and treatments to your doctor so that when they make their recommendations, you have peace of mind knowing they are (mostly) paid for, and you won’t incur high unexpected charges. Stay in your network, and ask your doctor for generics when possible. Use mail-order pharmacies; online pharmacies such as AccessRx can help eliminate co-pays and the expenses associated with traveling to the doctor’s office and pharmacy.

8. This one may be common sense, but "Lather Up!" Many colds and illnesses could be prevented by simply washing hands thoroughly under warm water for at least 20 seconds regularly. This is especially important in households where colds can bounce from family member to family member, and always take extra precaution in public. Carry Purel anti-bacterial gel with you and use it before eating, before and after going to the mall, handling money, etc.

9. Go to School. Whether it be a dental school (see ada.org) where students work under the supervision of certified dentists, or a massage school where students are in training, there are outlets that can save you money while improving your health.

And, as a bonus, always do your best to stick to your medications and treatments, as prescribed by your doctor. This will help prevent further cost-consuming health issues from appearing in the future. 

The following articles, used as a reference for the content above, provide even more insightful tactics to save money on health care. 

25 Ways to Save
12 Ways to Save
10 Ways to Save
10 More Ways to Save

Depending on your age and state of health, you may be able to find a cheap health insurance plan online.

Here is an article that talks about the ways the recently uninsured can save money.

Brian Bujdos