In Canada, many of us consider our healthcare expenses to be "free." Perhaps we feel that our expenses are limited only to our group benefits plan premiums at work. Or maybe we pay for our provincial medical plan premiums - which is sometimes even paid for us by employers.

True - as constituents in a country offering a public healthcare system, we are not directly billed for services received. But while we may not hand over our personal credit and debit cards each time we visit our doctor or the emergency room, there is an unseen associated cost for the services we receive.  And these costs are paid from Government revenues. So as taxpayers, we actually do collectively pay for our healthcare indirectly.

For an employer, inflation and the rising costs of healthcare services and drugs certainly affect the premium costs that are paid for Extended Health Benefits. When an employer is able to keep the overall cost of benefit premiums low, then the cost to you (your share of the premiums paid) is lower as well.

It is a daunting challenge as taxpayers and healthcare consumers to reduce our own contribution and impact on the system.  But if we are mindful of our "healthcare imprint factor", we can actually reduce the overall cost burden for both the public system and our employers.

Here are 5 ideas you might want to consider when you next need to access the healthcare system:

1. Register for Fair Pharmacare. British Columbians need to register with BC Pharmacare to be issued a deductible amount, which based on your family income. If you haven’t registered yet, you may be paying more for your prescriptions than you need to. Read our previous article on Fair Pharmacare for more information on this topic and links to BC's Provincial website.

2. Ask for Generic Drugs if they are available.  When you fill a new prescription next time, ask your pharmacist if a generic drug is available. Usually it will be significantly less expensive than the brand name - generally 70% less in price! These generic drugs have been passed by Health Canada, and are just as safe and effective as their name-brand equivalents. By making this simple change, you are reducing your out-of-pocket expenses on the drugs - and at the same time helping your employer contain costs on your group benefits plan.

3. Shop around for the lowest dispensing fees possible. Did you know that pharmacies price their dispensing fees at their discretion?  One drug store may charge $4.50 per prescription, while others charge up to $15 or even higher!  Although you may have a drug plan through work, you more than likely pay for part of the drug’s cost (the co-insurance). Therefore calling pharmacies for price comparisons could be another effective way to reduce your own expenses.

4. Ask your Practitioners if they charge more than customary fees. If the dentist’s charge exceeds the recommended fee guide, the Insurer will require you to pay the difference. Ask your Chiropractor, massage therapist, or other practitioner if they are registered and licensed. The insurer won’t pay any claims if not properly registered in their province of practice.

5. Get Healthy. Yes, we know... you hear this all the time. Our society is regularly bombarded with messages of eating right, being active and living a healthy and balanced life. It's inescapable! But the truth of the matter is that it's great advice. With increased demands from work and home these days, there seems to be less time for leisure and healthy meals.

An imbalance in our daily lives leave us with little personal time, and have us dashing from here to there, eating out regularly and making pit-stops at the local drive-thru. There is hardly any time for a brisk walk or quick workout at the gym, let alone 5 minutes to relax.

What does this leave us with?  A society that is heavily afflicted with conditions of diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. The cost of treatment for these conditions actually cost the public healthcare system millions a year. Even worse, these conditions result in accelerated death.

By living a healthier life - even if you only start by adding one half-hour walk a week - you are taking measures to avoid these diseases, which are for the most part preventable through diet and exercise. Research the dietary changes you need to make, and start adding some physical activity to your life. Disease prevention is a key factor in health care costs.  Less disease means less health issues for which you need visit the doctor for prescriptions or make trips to the emergency room.

By adopting one, two, or all of the above ideas, collectively we can reduce our healthcare imprint, and positively impact the overall cost burden in both the public healthcare system and our workplaces. In the long run, the savings get passed to you.