The picks below are part of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s annual Best List, a roundup of the best values in all the areas we cover – from funds, stocks and ETFs to credit cards and bank accounts to cars, college, kid stuff, phone plans, travel and health. Discover all our Best List picks here.
Health care cost estimator
At FAIR Health’s Consumer Cost Lookup, you can see the estimated charges (based on costs for your ZIP code) for thousands of medical and dental procedures.
Way to save on prescription drugs
GoodRx.com compares costs for your drugs at local and mail-order pharmacies. It also offers coupons that you can print out immediately, details about manufacturers’ assistance programs, information about lower-cost generics and therapeutic alternatives, other savings tips, and a pharmacy discount card. You can download a mobile app to compare costs at the doctor’s office.
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Hospital finder
Medicare.gov’s Hospital Compare makes it easy to check up on a hospital you would use in an emergency or one you’re considering for a procedure—even if you aren’t on Medicare. The site offers data on quality, safety and patient experience for more than 4,000 hospitals.
Health savings account
If you have a high-deductible health insurance policy and want to invest in an HSA for the long term—and your employer doesn’t offer an HSA or has poor investing choices—consider Health Savings Administrators. You can invest in any of 22 Vanguard funds (12 of which include low-cost Admiral shares) with no minimum, and the company recently added about 70 new fund choices from TIAA, T. Rowe Price, Dimensional and MFS. The annual administrative fee is $45, plus a custodial fee of 62.5 cents per $1,000 every three months for all (except for the TIAA and Price funds, which have no custodial fee).
Fitness tracker
The Fitbit Charge 2 ($150) packs a lot of features into a 0.84-inch-wide wristband. Besides tracking your steps, the device counts calories burned, distance traveled and flights of stairs climbed. It also monitors your heart rate and sleep habits. The small display shows the time and your activity stats, and it will alert you to calls or texts to your Apple or Android phone.
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Managing Startup Finances: The Fundamentals Entrepreneurs Need to Know
For Kiplinger Advisor Collective member Eric Kala, financial discipline, not just hard work, often separates successful businesses from unsuccessful ones.
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Settling Your Tax Debt With an Offer in Compromise Kiplinger Tax Letter
Tax Letter There’s more than one option to settle your IRS tax debt for less than you owe.
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Best Cash Back Credit Cards June 2023
Smart Buying Looking for the credit card that pays the most cash back? These lenders may pay hundreds of dollars, with minimum hassle.
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I-Bond Rate Is 4.30% for Next Six Months
Investing for Income Bonds issued May 1 to October 31 will have a rate of 4.30%.
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What Are I-Bonds?
savings bonds Inflation has made Series I savings bonds enormously popular with risk-averse investors. So how do they work?
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Your Guide to Open Enrollment 2023
Employee Benefits Health care costs continue to climb, but subsidies will make some plans more affordable.
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Watch Out for Flood-Damaged Cars from Hurricane Ian
Buying & Leasing a Car In the wake of Hurricane Ian, more flood-damaged cars may hit the market. Car prices may rise further because of increased demand as well.
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What You Need to Know About Life Insurance Settlements
life insurance If your life insurance payments don’t seem worth it anymore, consider these options for keeping the value.
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As the Market Falls, New Retirees Need a Plan
retirement If you’re in the early stages of your retirement, you’re likely in a rough spot watching your portfolio shrink. We have some strategies to make the best of things.
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Retirees: Your Next Companion May Be a Robot
happy retirement Robots may help fill the gap left by a shortage of humans to help older adults live independently.
