How investing in your physical health can improve your financial health

If you’re assessing your financial health in the new year, don’t forget to factor in the cost of your physical health. Patients who are tempted to delay or skip healthcare due to cost should reconsider, according to experts.

Don’t delay care

“Medical expenses are an investment in yourself,” said Laura Adams, author and host of the Money Girl podcast. “They are an investment in your future well-being.”

Delaying care due to cost could backfire because a patient’s disease could progress and be not only more serious but more expensive to treat.

Work with the provider to pay

Don’t pay medical bills with a credit card, Adams said. Payment plans from providers tend to have lower interest rates than credit cards, and credit card companies are more likely to report nonpayment to credit bureaus