Seven Ways to Practice Financial Stewardship in Your Health Plan: Smart spending can keep your health care from costing an arm and a leg.

1. Know your network. Provider networks can change fairly frequently. Always verify that your doctor’s still in the network by asking when you make the appointment. If you are given a referral, double-check they’re in-network. The same goes for labs, hospitals and urgent care centers.

2. Practice prevention. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)*, unhealthy behaviors, such as lack of exercise and poor nutrition, are a significant cause of illness, suffering and early death related to chronic diseases and conditions. Regular checkups can help catch diseases early and lower your risk of facing high medical bills in the future. Most health plans cover approved routine preventive care at 100%, which makes the visits relatively inexpensive.

3. Get empowered with your Explanation of Benefits (EOB). After you file a claim, your provider will send you an EOB. An EOB outlines how your insurance covered your claim and shows you the amount you may be billed. If you suspect a mistake, contact your insurance provider. Many errors can be easily corrected — and that can save you some money.

Be a savvy shopper.

4. Go generic. Sometimes doctors prescribe the same medications out of routine without an understanding of how much they cost. Always ask your doctor if there is a generic alternative or less expensive drug that can treat you just as effectively.

5. Price-compare your prescriptions. Need to fill a prescription at a retail pharmacy? Shop around. Even if you pay co-pays, you could save money by looking for the lowest price. You’ll generally pay the lesser of the cost of the prescription or your co-pay. If you take regular medication, consider a 90-day supply through mail order. You could save money on co-pays and conveniently review lower-cost alternatives, order refills and research side effects and drug interactions online.

6. Find the right fit in a health plan. Choosing the right medical coverage is the first step toward saving money on your medical expenses. You’ll need a balance of cost and benefits — you don’t want to pay for more coverage than you regularly use or scrimp on premiums only to spend a bundle at the point of service. Estimate your expenses for the coming year, then select the plan that makes the most sense. It’ll help you maximize your health care dollars.

7. Explore extras. Most health plans come with discount programs that can save you money on health-related products and services. For example, telemedicine is now a feature in most health plans these days — see a doctor anytime, anywhere. Plus, many providers also have 24-hour hotlines with nurses and health advocates. They can help you decide whether your child’s fever warrants a doctor visit, give you wellness support or help you through a diagnosis or treatment decision.