Living with a chronic illness can be expensive! On average, people with chronic diseases spend around $6,000 on healthcare annually. I’m no stranger to these costs—I’ve been dealing with a chronic illness called dysautonomia since I was a teenager. I was also recently diagnosed with ADHD. Over the years, I’ve learned several ways to save money on essential medications and supplements. I’ve also saved money by embracing rest and adjusting my lifestyle. Today I thought I’d share some of the frugal tips I’ve picked up during my chronic illness journey.
Take Advantage of Manufacturer Discounts on Medication
When you have a chronic illness, you often have no choice but to take medication to manage your condition. I’m on a few different medications and look for savings programs to help lower my prescription costs.
I take Vyvanse for my ADHD, and luckily the manufacturer offers a coupon that’s helped me save money. Vitassium, the company that makes the OTC salt tablets I take to manage my dysautonomia, also has a savings club. I’m able to get a 25% discount on my orders plus free shipping. So if you take any medications or supplements, do some research and see if you qualify for any discount programs offered by the manufacturer.
Use GoodRx to Compare Prescription Prices
Believe it or not, certain medications can actually be cheaper if you pay cash instead of using insurance. Sometimes switching to a different pharmacy can also lower your prescription costs. I use an app called GoodRx to check the price of my medications and find the pharmacy that offers the best deal.
GoodRx is a prescription discount app that allows you to compare medication prices at different pharmacies in your area. The app also has coupons, but keep in mind that you can only use them when paying for your medications in cash. You can’t combine GoodRx coupons with your insurance.
Sometimes it’s actually cheaper for me to forgo insurance and use the GoodRx discount instead. So it’s a good idea to download the app and compare the price of your medications using GoodRx versus insurance.
Book Telehealth Appointments to Save on Transportation
Dysautonomia is a fairly uncommon medical condition. Since I live in a rural area, there aren’t any doctors nearby who are qualified to treat me. My specialist is located several hours away, so it takes a lot of time and gas to get there. Even my primary care doctor is in a city that’s over an hour away.
To save money on transportation costs, I started doing telehealth visits with my doctors whenever possible. My insurance provider covers telehealth appointments, which is becoming more common. Most insurance plans have started covering telehealth services, so following up with your specialists remotely can be a great way to save money on transportation.
Embrace Rest
Having a chronic illness can be tough financially and emotionally, but I always try to look for the silver linings! One of the benefits of my dysautonomia is that it’s helped me live a slower, simpler life. Dysautonomia causes symptoms like fainting, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and more. Because of my condition, I can’t always be on-the-go. Most of my free time is spent at home relaxing so I can get the rest my body needs.
The upside is that I save a lot of money by listening to my body and living a low-key life. I’ve learned how to entertain myself at home with low-cost hobbies like reading books from the library, birdwatching in my backyard, and doing puzzles. Instead of spending $100 every weekend on going out and drinking, I rest at home and watch a movie.
Although I felt like I was missing out on experiences like backpacking and partying in my early twenties, I’ve since settled into my routine. Now I see my condition as more of a blessing than a curse. It taught me how to slow down and appreciate the simple pleasures in life at an earlier age than a lot of my peers. As a result, I’ve been able to save money and meet financial goals like becoming a homeowner and reducing my mortgage balance by making overpayments.
What are some strategies you use to save money with a chronic illness? Share your tips in the comments!
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Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.