Written by Connor Graham and Neil T. O’Donnell

With healthcare expenses rising, many Americans are opting for alternatives for traditional health insurance.

Direct Primary-Care Practices

David Contorno recently told his story to the Wall Street Journal.¹ Foregoing insurance, he pays a monthly membership fee for direct primary-care practices. Among these are: constant access to a primary-care doctor, discounts on prescriptions, and access to coupons. By paying for this service, Contorno gets unlimited visits and off-hours support.

Cash-Pay Healthcare Options

Others opt for a simple cash-pay strategy. Such individuals search for health providers that list cash prices in their area. Not many cash prices are available, but a quick phone call can provide a quote on specific prices for services. Certain websites serve as bona-fide digital malls for cash-price vendors, such as UberDoc, RadiologyAssist, and Green Imaging.

Still, interested individuals should be cautioned that the listed prices may not reflect the actual figures. Healthcare providers are only required to offer a “good faith estimate.”

Help With Hospital Bills

Things get trickier for services you have to pay for after-the-fact, like the ER. A nonprofit like Dollar For can help. Dollar For offers services to help individuals get through the payment process, and often helps lower the bill to boot.²

Non-profit hospitals should have avenues for financial assistance, the problem lay only in the time and paperwork to get there.

Healthcare Alternatives Can Be Lifelines

These are just a few examples, but such offerings are lifelines to people in need.