Each year, Black Friday is bigger and more exciting every year. Millions of people shop for holiday gifts and get the best deals. Healthy Me PA is challenging you to make this Black Friday a “Health Hack Friday” as you explore the world of serious shoppers.
Consider the benefits of products and promotions when you are looking for gifts and deals for family and friends. These are three suggestions for healthy gifts
Purchase class passes. Group classes offer many benefits, whether it’s Zumba, yoga, or cycling. The American College of Sports Medicine has evidence that group classes provide a fun, social environment and a well-designed workout. Most group exercise classes are set up with a regular schedule and require no previous exercise experience or knowledge. You can support each other and be more accountable if you purchase a pass for yourself and a friend.
Get a fitness tracker. Medic Scales teaches you how to walk your way toward fitness. Walking regularly is a great way to stay fit.
- Keep a healthy weight
- Manage and prevent various conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes
- Strengthen your bones, muscles, and joints
- You can improve your mood
- Balance and coordination can be improved
Register for cooking/nutrition classes. You will get new ideas and better recipes for healthier cooking. You might find low-cost or free services at your local hospital.
Look for deals and coupons for products that can benefit your health before you go on Black Friday. Only one “Health Hack Friday” away is a healthier you!
The No Surprises Act attempted to solve the problem. A provision allows individuals to get a good-faith estimate before they receive any medical care. This requirement was enacted by the government because consumers need pricing information to “compare costs and make decisions about which provider they will use for care.” It must include all expected charges and a description of a provider’s “typical” discounted price. Providers cannot legally offer discounts or sales, so the “typical discounts” refer to the price that the insurance company would charge or the cash-pay patient.
What does the consumer end up paying? Patients won’t save any money if the provider’s “typically” discounted price is much higher than their co-pay deductible. However, the intention of helping patients save money by showing them a “healthcare version” of a price tag is a positive step.
It is time to remove the ban on patient discounts and to empower consumers and healthcare providers to reduce costs. Providers could be competitive through pricing and not only through reputation or quality if they had the chance to advertise lower out-of-pocket costs. Providers could also optimize their capacities by offering seasonal discounts during slow periods, or special pricing on new services.
Patients would be more inclined to pay ahead if they were informed of the discounted prices before waiting for their insurance claims to be processed. Patients would be able to pay less and providers would make more money. Providers would also be able to compete for price, which will benefit insurance companies. Most group exercise classes are set up with a regular schedule and require no previous exercise experience or knowledge. You can support each other and be more accountable if you purchase a pass for yourself and a friend.
