Cheaper than the ER

This has very little to do with coupons or deals, but I know that the readers of this blog are mostly moms like me and I just wanted to make sure that you knew about the new:

Antrim Family Walk-In Care Clinic

No Appointment Necessary

Mon-Fri 11am-7pm

Weekends 11am-6pm

Located in the John L. Grove Medical Center

Greencastle, Pa

(717)597-5553

Franklin County has needed a walk in clinic for years! If you've ever had a kid with chronic ear infections or respiratory issues, then you know how frustrating a Saturday night can be when you know it's going to be more than 24 hours before a doctor can help your child. And this is probably going to be a faster option than the emergency room for minor injuries or stitches. You might want to talk to your insurance company ahead of time or take a look at your health insurance policy. I know for sure that an emergency walk-in clinic like this is going to be a much, much cheaper option for me (over going to a Hospital Emergency room).

You should always know what your best options are in case of an emergency before an emergency actually happens! Do you know how expensive a six mile ambulance ride to the ER is????? Last year it cost me over $600. My insurance paid about $140 and I had to pay the rest out of pocket. But if I had belonged to the ambulance club (it costs $35 a year) they would have accepted the insurance's payment as payment in full. A very costly lesson to learn!

Here are a few steps you should take to keep cost down in case of an emergency:

1. Call your insurance company and ask what your Emergency Room co-pay is? Or find out if you even have one. ((I have a $300 copay...which is why a walk-in clinic is a much better choice for me))

2. Ask the insurance company what percentage they will pay for ER costs if you are treated and not admitted to the hospital. Usually they will pay 80% and you end up paying 20%.

3. Find out how much it costs to become a member of your local ambulance club. Some areas have a rescue squad too that will sometimes show up in emergencies and they'll send you a bill too! Ask how much it costs to sign up for both and then ask them what the benefits of joining the club are (it varies, but most of the time being a member means they will accept whatever your insurance decides to pay as payment in full).

4. Make sure you have an emergency fund set up and don't touch it. If an emergency does come along you're not going to be crunching the numbers in the middle of it. You're not even going to think about the cost, that's why you need to think about it ahead of time.

5. Talk to elderly parents or grandparents about joining the ambulance club, etc. Be their advocate and help them prepare ahead of time for any emergencies that could arise.