Saving money on your hospital bills is possible if you do a little legwork and be a smart consumer. Treat your hospital stay like you would any other major purchase: shop around, double check things, and make sure you are paying for only what you absolutely need.
As with anything else, savvy shoppers needn't pay more than they absolutely have to for their hospital care. Combat the rising costs of hospital care with these money saving tips.
Save on Hospital Care Money Saving Tip #1 Have your primary care physician be in charge.
Doctors who are unfamiliar with your health might recommend costly and unnecessary tests and procedures in order to diagnose and familiarize themselves with your condition. Your doctor already is familiar with your condition and may have tried variety of treatments for you in the past, will have your test results, etc.
Money Saving Tip # 2 Ask your doctor to check your bill.
Yes, you can (and should) ask your doctor to check your hospital bill for inaccuracies. If you have a chronic illness you will want to be vigilant about checking and double-checking your bill for overcharges. You don't want to meet your insurance policy maximum sooner than necessary because of an error or an overcharge.
Money Saving Tip #3 Find a cheaper hospital.
Consider a teaching hospital or a government clinic. These medical facilities charge less than traditional hospitals, and as an added bonus, they often charge based on ability to pay. Teaching hospitals and government clinics are good choices for those who have no insurance or who have reached their insurance limit.
Money Saving Tip #4 Negotiate.
It never hurts to negotiate your hospital bill. Pay what you can up front and work out a payment plan for the rest. The hospital may reduce your bill in order to make it easier for you to pay because this may be more cost-effective for them than having to pay a collection agency to try to collect from you, or, worse, than having you not pay anything at all.
Money Saving Tip #5 Get a second opinion.
Getting a second opinion can be a excellent way to save on hospital bills. Second opinions increase your chances of finding less expensive and more effective treatment. Many insurance policies pay for second opinions.
Money Saving Tip #6 Refuse costly hospital markups.
Believe it or not, you can pay the hospital $90 for a "grabber" (a tool that reaches things that are out of your reach) that sells for only $17 at local home improvement store. Or how about paying $75 for two doses of Tylenol which cost about for $4 for 60 tablets at the local drugstore. Medical supplies, like cushions and tendonitis arm bands and bathroom wall bars can be purchased cheaper at pharmacies and local medical supply stores.
Saving money on your hospital bills is possible if you do a little legwork and be a smart consumer. Treat your hospital stay like you would any other major purchase: shop around, double check things, and make sure you are paying for only what you absolutely need.
Sarah V. Morris enjoys writing about family finances, especially articles about saving money. Her latest interest is saving money outdoor entertaining. Please check out her latest website [patiofirepitsshop.com] to find out how to choose and buy a patio fire pit [patiofirepitsshop.com] or fire pit ring for backyard entertaining and family fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment