Healthcare costs can feel overwhelming—one month, it’s just a prescription refill; the next, it’s an unexpected doctor visit or diagnostic test. Keeping track of your monthly healthcare spends is the first step toward better financial planning and a healthier, stress-free lifestyle.
Why is healthcare expenditure worth calculating?
Knowing your monthly healthcare spend isn’t just about numbers—it’s about control. It allows you to:
- Avoid unpleasant surprises when bills arrive.
- Identify areas where you might be overspending.
- Plan for larger expenses like elective procedures or braces.
- Have peace of mind knowing you’re financially prepared.
Let’s walk through the steps to calculate your monthly healthcare costs in a way that’s easy to understand and apply to your own situation.
5-Step Guide to Calculate Your Monthly Healthcare Expenditure
Step 1: List Your Fixed Healthcare Costs
Start with the predictable costs—those that occur every month without fail. These might include:
- Regular medications: Add up the cost of prescriptions or over-the-counter medicines you take regularly.
- Preventive care or wellness programs: If you’ve signed up for gym memberships, yoga classes, or similar programs, include those costs.
- Health insurance premiums: If you pay annually, divide the total by 12 for a monthly figure.
Example: Let’s say your insurance premium is ₹2,000/month, and you spend ₹500 on medications. Your fixed costs are ₹2,500/month.
Step 2: Track Variable Expenses
Variable costs are those that fluctuate month to month. These could include:
- Doctor visits: If you visit a specialist or GP occasionally, note these costs.
- Diagnostics and lab tests: These may not happen every month but can be significant when they do.
- Dental or vision care: Routine checkups or unexpected treatments can add to your expenses.
Example: If you spend ₹1,000 on a doctor visit and ₹800 on lab tests in one month, your variable costs total ₹1,800.
A simple way to track these is to use a budgeting app—or better yet, a tool like zAppy. With zAppy, you don’t have to stress over collecting receipts or calculating reimbursements. The app allows you to make cashless payments for consultations, tests, and medicines, making it easier to manage these variable costs without any extra effort. |
Step 3: Don’t Forget Hidden Costs
Some expenses might not immediately come to mind but can still impact your budget:
- Transportation costs: Did you drive to the doctor’s office or take public transport?
- Childcare expenses: If you had to hire a babysitter for your appointment, that’s an indirect healthcare cost.
- Health-related supplies: Bandages, thermometers, or even vitamins can add up over time.
- Health Inflation: India has one of the highest health inflation amongst south asian countries. Its over 14% pa
Pro Tip: Keep receipts for at least three months. You’ll start noticing patterns in these hidden costs.
Using zAppy can help you consolidate many of these hidden costs. For example, you can choose teleconsultations through the app, saving on travel time and expenses. |
Step 4: Add It All Up
Now that you have a clear list of your fixed, variable, and hidden costs, combine them to find your monthly healthcare spend.
Example:
- Fixed costs: ₹2,500
- Variable costs: ₹1,800
- Hidden costs: ₹200
Total healthcare spend for the month: ₹4,500 and add Health Inflation to this, it comes to ₹4,550/- a month
If you’ve tracked this over several months, take the average to get a more realistic figure.
Step 5: Plan for Emergencies
Medical emergencies are unpredictable but often expensive. It’s smart to set aside a portion of your budget as an emergency fund for healthcare.
How to do it: Look at your past year’s healthcare spending and identify the highest monthly cost. Use this as a benchmark to set your emergency fund goal.
How zAppy Makes Budgeting Easier
One of the biggest challenges with healthcare expenses is unpredictability. You don’t always know when you’ll need to visit a doctor or pay for medications. This is where zAppy becomes your trusted ally.
zAppy is more than just a health tech app—it’s a smart healthcare plan that helps you save on everyday medical expenses like consultations, diagnostics, and wellness programs. With no network restrictions, you’re free to consult any doctor or hospital across India, whether online or offline.
Here’s what makes zAppy is revolutionary app for managing your healthcare expenses:
- No spending sub limits: Allocate your OPD allowance as needed, whether for doctor fees, medicines, or dental care.
- 100% cashless payments: Skip the hassle of reimbursements—pay directly through the app.
- Immediate wellness benefits: Start using wellness perks from day one, with max. seven-day waiting period for OPD benefits.
Let’s take the example of Neha, a young professional, juggling work and family responsibilities. Here’s how she broke down her monthly healthcare spends:
- Fixed costs: ₹2,000 on insurance, ₹600 on vitamins and supplements.
- Variable costs: ₹1,200 for a specialist visit and ₹800 for blood tests.
- Hidden costs: ₹200 on transportation.
Total: ₹4,800/month.
When Neha switched to zAppy, she realized she could save significantly by making cashless payments and taking advantage of wellness benefits like discounted health checkups. Plus, the freedom to consult any doctor, online or offline, gave her much-needed flexibility.
Here’s a clear comparison how zAppy simplifies healthcare spending while maximizing value.
Aspect | Life without zAppy | Life with zAppy |
Tracking expenses | Manually collect receipts and calculate costs. | Automated tracking with a seamless app interface. |
Payments | Reimbursement delays and upfront cash payments. | 100% cashless payments—directly through the app. |
Doctor consultations | Limited to network hospitals or clinics. | Freedom to consult any doctor, online or offline. |
Hidden costs | Unnoticed transport, supplies, and childcare costs. | Reduced costs via teleconsultations and discounts. |
Wellness programs | Additional expense, often overlooked. | Included benefits like health checkups and discounts. |
OPD allowance usage | Restricted by sub-limits. | Flexible allocation based on your needs. |
Emergency planning | Unpredictable and often unplanned. | Structured with insights and emergency fund support. |
Health inflation impact | High out-of-pocket expenses with rising costs. | Minimized with savings and proactive planning. |
Conclusion: A Healthier Approach to Budgeting
Taking the time to calculate your healthcare costs can be empowering. It gives you a clearer picture of where your money is going and helps you prioritize what matters most—your health.
Whether you’re looking to save on doctor visits, streamline payments, or gain access to wellness programs, zAppy has you covered. Ready to simplify your healthcare? Visit zappy.care today and explore plans that fit your needs.
Make budgeting for healthcare one less thing to worry about—you’ve got this!
