NEW YORK — The last time Mark Stella went to the dentist he didn't need an insurance card. Instead, he pulled out a Groupon.
Stella, a small business owner, canceled his health insurance plan more than three years ago when his premium rose to more than $400 a month.
So when a deal popped up on daily deals site Groupon for a teeth cleaning, exam and an X-ray at a nearby dentist, Stella, 55, bought the deal for himself and another for his daughter. He paid $39 for each, $151 below what the dentist normally charges.
Daily deal sites, best known for offering discounts at restaurants and spas, are increasingly going into more serious territory selling discounted health care in the form of coupons for dental work, eye exams and even medical checkups.