You may have healthcare insurance but it doesn’t cover the medical supplies and devices that you depend on. Medicare has made healthcare quite affordable for many older Americans; however there are many things that it won’t pay for such as dental care, deductibles, and vision care or even durable medical equipment at times.
If you are going to purchase to purchase medical products like wheelchairs and hospital beds, you know that they are quite expensive and they may not be covered by Medicare unless you have a doctor’s approval.
Even if they will be covered, it may just be portion of the amount. So, how do you go along in saving on medical products?
Time Your Purchase
One thing that is little known to most would-be buyers of medical products is timing when they make their purchase. It can have a big impact on the amount of price you pay for the products. By just timing when you purchase, you could save thousands of dollars.
For example, you can consider end of year purchases because this is the time when most medical suppliers are eager to do away with the existing inventory. They will give discounts to buyers around mid November to end of December.
Another time is end of the quarter when most sales managers are under pressure to meet their quarterly sales goals. When you reach out to suppliers of medical equipment at end of March, June, or September, you could walk away with huge savings. Furthermore, if you decide to buy at this time, it would be wise to do it in bulk to double down on the savings you can make per unit, this is especially useful for supplies that cannot be reused that you are sure to get through in the next calendar year, items like cannulas and saline bags are going to be used up so buying in bulk makes the most sense.
During special events and before holidays you can take advantage of special promotions and contests that medical equipment supplies company’s host.
Go for Refurbished Products
Remanufactured or refurbished medical equipment can save you up to 50 percent or even more. Refurbished medical products aren’t bad; in fact they can last for decades if not years. However, you have to distinguish between remanufactured and used equipment.
Some suppliers selling used equipment may sell you something that is not working or won’t go for long. Just do your research to see that you are purchasing refurbished equipment and not just some used equipment that is being discarded.
Ask for Overstock Items or “Dollar Menu”
A majority of medical equipment suppliers will have items that have remained unsold for while and they are willing to discard them at reduced prices.
Overstock items can be found during end of years when suppliers are cleaning inventory as they prepare for the start of the next fiscal year.
The “Dollar Menu” items are a great way for you to save money. Some medical supplies advertise the items for sale, but others just keep them aide and sell them at wholesale or auction them.
Buy At Trade Shows
If you plan to purchase medical products and equipment, you can take advantage of the trade show events. Most hospital owners and surgeons navigate trade show circuits looking for products that they can buy.
Exhibitions offers trade show special as well as package discounts to their customers who give a deposit during the expos. Look out for what is available during the last day of the expo because it is the time when most medical supplies companies offer significant savings. At this time, the companies are looking forward to make last minute sales.
Look out for any medical expos taking place around your place or in nearby locations and visit them. You can even talk to the attendants and ask if they could give you a discount if you visited their store or ordered online in the near future.
Buy In Bulk
It’s also cost saving when you purchase products in bulk. For example, you can buy large quantities of thermometer covers for the Alaris Tri-Site, TurboTemp, and Temp Plus II brands in bulk and save money. However, this equipment can sometimes be costly. if you are just buying the products for individual purposes then you may find that you cannot afford the bulky purchases. However, if you are running organizations or institutions like nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, clinics, and government agencies then you’ll find you can really benefit from this feature because you’ll have the financial muscle to buy in bulk.
Medical equipment suppliers may even be willing to have huge reductions for started that are establishing themselves so that you remain loyal customers.
You can even save money on importation fees and shipping when you have the products shipped within a single freight carton or shipping container. In addition, you can request for perks like additional accessories and free spares packages.
Know the Language of Sales Persons
When negotiating with sales persons and owners of medical product companies, you should be careful of their sales gimmick. Salesperson can adjust prices to different clients depending on how the clients present themselves.
Be nice, but also be tactful if you are negotiating or asking for discount, especially on the big ticket item. Know the prices before hand and compare with other suppliers. If you are pleasant, responsive, and polite to the salesperson, you may find that you are lucky and you are granted a lower price than others. Let the salespersons know that you are so flexible and want their advice.
Look for More Cost Effective Choices
When purchasing medical products, you can go for those that are cost effective. For example, you can buy the ones that have been designed to last longer. One way many people are losing a lot of their hard-earned money is by spending too much on incontinence products such as adult diapers.
Diapers are widely known as prohibitively expensive – but what many people don’t realize is that there are many options and some are more cost-effective than others.
For example, instead of doubling up diapers when one isn’t enough, a more absorbent option or a booster pad can save money in the long run. In addition, patients with long-term incontinence issues may want to consider saving big by using reusable products instead.
These are some of the way you can cut back on the cost of purchasing medical products. There are other many ways such as buying online and seeking state assistance programs if you are an individual. You can even talk to your GP to help you purchase your medical equipment because doctors tend to be awarded discounts by the medical equipment suppliers.