Of all developed countries, America spends more money on health care than anyone else. Still, we are one of the least healthy populations when countries with high GDP. This is probably because our hyper-modern world, with fast food and pollution galore, doesn’t make for an environment conducive to consistent health. When you take into consideration, moreover, that health expenses are generally more expensive here than anywhere else, you’ll find that spending on health can eat up a large portion of your pocket book. Here are some simple ways to reduce that hefty cost.

Prevention is the best medicine

Getting sick is never fun, and often if you ignore an illness, you’ll end up spending a ton of money on doctor visits, medications, maybe even hospitalizations. As such, if you know that you are prone to certain illnesses, make sure to take all preventive measures that you can. For example, I’m prone to UTIs, which are often caused simply from not drinking enough water. Untreated, UTIs can turn into bladder infections, in one case requiring hospitalization. And the whole ordeal could have been avoided using a preventative route—drinking tons of water every day. As such, make it a priority to take care of yourself each and every day, even if you aren’t sick.

Always ask for generics from your doctor

Generics are often derided as not as effective as brand names. The truth is they are composed of the exact same active ingredients, so it is highly unlikely that you’ll find a generic to be less potent than its brand counterpart. The thing about generics, however, is that doctors often do not prescribe them unless you ask. You’ll end up saving potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars per year.

Challenge health insurance claim denials

Insurance companies are perhaps a necessary evil, and since they are in the business to turn as much of a profit as they can, they try to take advantage of the fact that you will not be motivated to fight claim denials. At the same time, according to the Government of Accountability Office, up to 50% of appeals are successful. It pays to fight your insurance company any time you are denied coverage for any reason.

Haggle!

Although you may think that bargaining is reserved only for souvenir markets, a Harris Interactive poll found that over 60% of patients who tried bargaining with their doctors were successful, but only 12% even tried. Research how much procedures and tests cost, then try using this information to bring down the price of your health bills.