Uninsured patients are finding more than a good spa deal on their favorite coupon sites, a recent article on MSNBC confirms. Although best known for limited discounts on restaurant meals and hotel stays, popular coupon sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are branching out to include a number of healthcare services. Teeth cleanings, eye exams and chiropractic care are just a few of the offers, while select sites are beginning to look to deals on elective procedures not typically covered by health insurers.
Discounts offered on the sites are typically paid for upfront, while the customer is responsible for booking an appointment and redeeming the coupon before it expires. The concept has become popular in recent years, bringing exposure to merchants and notable deals to consumers on products they already use or would like to try.
According to data collected by DealRadar.com, about one in every 11 deals offered on coupon sites is now for a healthcare service. A full medical checkup in New York, as seen on Groupon, recently sold for $69—significantly less than the “regular” price of $200. On AmazonLocal, flu shots were offered for $17, less than half of their going rate.
According to Dan Hess, CEO and founder of Local Offer Network (which runs DealRadar.com), about 9 percent of all offers on daily deal sites, in November, were for dental work or some kind of medical treatment, up 4.5 percent in the beginning of 2011.
Healthcare deals are most popular with those who have gaps in coverage or no insurance, with dental deals as the most prevalent. Among the 172 million people under 65 who have private health insurance in the U.S., about 45 million don’t have dental coverage, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although experts warn skipping from doctor to doctor isn’t ideal for monitoring a patient’s health, other providers have jumped on the bandwagon and seen success by utilizing coupon sites. Dr. Gregg Fienerman, an ophthalmologist, recently offered a 58 percent discount on Lasik eye surgery through Groupon. “We reached a whole new demographic who otherwise wouldn’t find us,” he said. “It’s a better way to market.”
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