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Medical Costs And How To Lower Them

27th July, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Except for not having health insurance, it’s because they don’t know the system that uninsured patients do not know that everybody else is getting a reduction. From Medicare to Medicaid, from HMOs to PPOs, each group is getting a discount apart from the uninsured. Discounts are given so as to generate more business.

To the uninsured this doesn’t seem fair. But it is feasible to pay less when you see doctors in Pittsburgh, doctors in Raleigh and even doctors in Riverside.

Here are five proved tips to economize on office visits :

1. Speak up. It’s improbable your health practitioner is keeping track of your financial situation. You are the one to make your doctor aware that you lack health insurance. Ask the doctor ( or nurse, or receptionist, or patient accounts dep. ) if a discount is available for uninsured patients. Ask if they will accept less. If your doctor agrees, make certain to keep your part of the accord. ( And remember to say thanks. )

2. Ask for a billing discount. It costs money and time to generate a monthly bill. If you pay at the time of your visit, it is suitable to ask for a billing discount. Even though it’s only $5, that is’s enough for a meal.

3. Spend your money sensibly. Convince your doctor you’re handling your cash responsibly, then ask for an one-time discount till your financial affairs are back in shape. Develop a practice of stumping up for necessities before luxuriating in luxuries. If you cannot afford to take care of yourself ( as in paying the doctor ), are you able to afford to purchase tobacco or alcohol or lotto tickets? Is it reasonable to request a reduction as you spent $300 on your pet? ( This does happen, more frequently than you’d think. ) Doctors need to help patients who help themselves, so start by doing your bit.

4. Ask for a discount on lab tests. The retail “mark-up ” on lab tests is important. Just as fast-food chains have a higher profit margin on soft drinks than hamburgers, so too, medical practices regularly make more on lab testing than on consultant services. The good news is that this permits room for rebates. But it’s’s not likely that a discount will be mechanically offered – again, you’ll need to talk up.

5. Organize your thoughts and goals beforehand. Regularly patients don’t understand that doctors charge for their time. A long office visit is more expensive than a short one. Don’t try and “get your money’s worth ” by dredging up each problem you can think about – it may well backfire. Ask the receptionist what the price is for office visits of varying lengths, then plan appropriately. Mention to your doctor at the beginning of your appointment that you’d like to restrict your cost by optimizing your time with him.

It dazzles me how most people don’t think about paths to cut back their doctor’s bills. Your health is critical, but you can definitely cut back the costs of going to the doctor without too much effort. If you do this over the period of a few years then you might save thousands of greenbacks.