A 2017 survey by the National Eczema Association found that 20 percent of people with eczema spend over $200 per month on over-the-counter (OTC) products to treat their eczema, and 25 percent spend over $200 on prescription medicines to treat their eczema. Those numbers don't even include the cost of doctor's visits or the added expenses that go along with following a special diet or buying household cleaners, clothes, and linens that don't trigger your eczema. The worse your eczema gets, the more you spend.
Here are some tips, though, for tracking and managing the cost of your eczema care:
- Keep records and receipts of all of your eczema-related spending because many OTC products are eligible for reimbursement if you have a healthcare savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA).
- If you're on an expensive prescription medicine, you may be able to get help through a patient assistance program from the manufacturer.
- Don't fall for expensive marketing. Often, the generic version is identical and much less expensive, so compare the active ingredients.
