The latest issue of AARP magazine features a MoneySaver article by Jean Chatzky on
how to pay less out-of-pocket for medical care.
“What hurts more than ripping off a Band-Aid?
Taking a good, hard look at your medical bills. Annual out-of-pocket
health care spending jumped 4.6 percent, to an average of $735m in 2011 (the
most recent year for which figures are available) for people with
employer-sponsored insurance, the Health Care Cost Institute reports. To
ease the sting, consider these three strategies—but be sure you’re not
compromising your health.
Avoid unnecessary or duplicative care The
biggest way to save—by far—is to avoid treatment or tests you don’t need.
Not rushing into questionable back surgery, for example, “will save you a lot
of pain and money,” says Jeffrey Rice, M.D. CEO of Healthcare Blue Book, a
Kelly Blue Book-type guide to medical care. Before you give that blood
sample or get that MRI, ask your physician if this needs to be done
immediately. He or she might suggest a more financially conservative
approach, or a safe amount of time to wait and see if the problem improves on
its own.
Compare costs of treatment Many of us purchase
health care services without a clue as to cost. Before treatment, ask
doctors and facilities how much they’re going to charge. Compare those
answers with typical costs in your area; you can get that information at healthcarebluebook.com.
Call around to check prices at specific facilities near you. It can save
you thousands of dollars, especially if you have not met your deductible or
decide to go out of network. Also, ask your doctor about cheaper versions
of any drug you take. If you feel uncomfortable talking process with a
doctor, consult you pharmacist.
While both patients and employers are looking to keep the cost of care
down, they are also seeking providers with a reputation and track record for
quality care and positive outcomes to help reduce the need for future care and
additional costs.
But the search for providers that can deliver low-cost, high-quality
care is no longer limited to a setting located within a reasonable drive.
Patients and employers are surgery shopping outside of their states and regions
to identify the best providers available and at the best price—prices that do
not necessarily just look at the cost of treatment but may factor in expenses
associated with travel to and from a setting.
The State of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)
hosts several online tools for patients to compare the cost and quality of
surgeons and facilities at www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov.
Expert assistance on how to navigate AHCA’s and similar websites is available
from patient advocate Evette White-Rosenthal. Contact Evette at ewrosenthal@noif-fl.com or (561) 844-0120 ext 407.
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