Take care of your health and your budget with these tips for lowering health care costs from Jane Cooper, president and CEO of health care advocacy company Patient Care.

• Buy generic drugs: Generic prescription drugs cost an average of 80 to 85 percent less than brand-name ones, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
• Refill prescriptions by mail: Mail-service pharmacies cost 16 percent less than retail ones, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
• Compare costs: Because prices vary across providers, it can pay to shop around for the best rate on planned services like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and childbirth.
• Find a primary-care physician: Specialists and emergency rooms are expensive, so having a primary care doctor to turn to first can reduce costs.
• Be passionate about prevention: Preventive services like mammograms and colonoscopies can save your life — and your nest egg.
• Weigh your insurance options: If you rarely utilize the health system, you might save on monthly insurance premiums by choosing a high-deductible plan. Or, you might reduce out-of-pocket costs with a low-deductible plan.
• Get healthy: If you have employer-sponsored health insurance, you might qualify for discounts if you’re a nonsmoker with a healthy lifestyle.

When it comes to budgeting for health care costs, “the easiest way to save money is to think ahead,” Cooper says. Learn more about planning ahead for medical payments.