How To Cut Your Health Care Costs

(MarketWatch)  More than 44 million people living in the U.S. are uninsured, according to the Census Bureau's latest estimates.

To avoid snowballing debt, people without health coverage often choose to forgo doctors' visits altogether. But this may end up costing them more down the road, warns health care consultant Michelle Katz, author of the book "Healthcare for Less."

Preventive care is essential to diagnosing and treating illnesses before they require costly medical interventions. Whether you are uninsured or simply trying to economize, Katz suggests these three tips to cut your medical expenses:

Pay cash to reduce costs:
People often don't realize that medical costs are negotiable — particularly if you're willing to pay cash. A cash transaction can save you up to 50 percent, says Katz. This is an excellent option for those with no health coverage, but it's also worth paying cash if you do have insurance. Many physicians will cut you a deal anyway because it saves them the headache of wrangling with the insurance company.

Bargain hunt:
Not all medical charges are created equal. The cost of procedures can fluctuate wildly from hospital to hospital. "It's like shopping for a car," says Katz. Before you go in for elective surgery, she suggests calling the billing departments of several local hospitals to get price quotes. Find out exactly what services are included in the cost to avoid hidden charges.

Don't pay full price for your prescriptions:
Before your doctor writes you a prescription, inquire if there are samples to be had. If they aren't available, ask your care provider to write a 90-day prescription rather than a 30-day. This will save you from having to schedule another appointment for a refill. Shopping at the pharmacies of wholesalers, such as Costco or Sam's Club, can also deliver significant savings. But regardless of where you fill your prescriptions, ask for the generic brand.

Of course, some health care expenses are unavoidable, but don't be a passive consumer. According to the Medical Billing Advocates of America, an advocacy group, as many as nine out of 10 medical bills reviewed contain errors. Katz says vigilantly checking your medical bills can save you tons of cash.


By Marshall Loeb
© 2007 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved

[fizzal-2009]

Take a trip too South America and jump on the USSS Comfort. Their dental facilities are wonderful.

[erasmus6]

Seer999

"The government has screwed up every part of medical care they have injected themselves into. Do we really believe they now have the ultimate answer?"

Obviously not in your country. How did you end up with such a screwed up government? I am not saying that our health care is perfect, but compared to yours it comes pretty close. At least here, everybody has health care. That health care includes doctors visits, surgeries, tests, xrays...And as far as prescription drugs go, they are basically the same price everywhere. We aren't getting scammed like you are. That goes for the insurance companies, also.
And 50% of our wages are not going to taxes to "finance the system". People who make under a certain amount, don't have to pay for medical.
Now as far as people going to the U.S. for health care, that is only when we have a waiting list for particular surgeries.
There is not a single person here who can't go to the doctor because they can't afford it. The hospitals here don't put poor people in a taxi and dump them off on SKID ROW like yours do. THAT'S BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE HEALTH CARE.

[seer999]

Ah, erasmus? If the health care in Canada is so great, why do so many Canadians come to the US for their health care? The answer is simple. Like any socialised government program it is inefficient. As for the pharmaceutical companies, yes, that's a problem. The industry is, across the board the most profitable industry in the world. The insurance companies pride themselves on the number of claims the deny, and continuously play the "stall game." For those who think that the government has the answer, they need to look at the very beginning of the health care crisis in our country. It was called the Medicare act of 1965. The government has screwed up every part of medical care they have injected themselves into. Do we really believe they now have the ultimate answer? Perhaps we should take a look at the U.S. Postal service, the military, the VA system, Congress, etc. etc. etc. Why would anyone believe the federal government can effectively run a nationalized medical system? You can anticipate 50%+ of your income going to taxes to finance a system that will be far worse than what we have now. If you don't believe me, look at the countries that have a socialized medical system.

[erasmus6]

Why doesn't your government put a stop to all the scams?

[sparks224]

It's not the uninsured that have the real problem, they know their screwed. It's the insured who try to file a claim. Health insurance has become a scam.

We don't need "universal health insurance".
We need a real healthcare system.
The insurance companies need to be put out of business and the profits they take need to go back in our pockets.

[erasmus6]

ubrew12

It is too bad that boy didn't live in Canada, he would still be alive.

[ubrew12]

"Boy am I glad I don't live in the U.S.!!"
Posted by erasmus6 at 02:53 PM : Jun 15, 2007

I just read about a boy whose mother kept putting off getting a tooth pulled - no insurance. Finally, after it got real painful, they went into a hospital emergency room, were given painkillers and discharged. Soon thereafter the infection spread to the boys brain and he died.

Health care in America! The best in the world! All you have to do is shop for it, like any other discerning 6 year old shopper.

[affytaples]

Politicians, sociologists and bureaucrats do not understand distribution and control or prescription drugs. About 30% of the retail price is cost recovery on direct advertising to consumers. Another 30% is probably waste fraud and abuse a though minded manager would unload. That leaves prescription drug material, development and distribution cost at about 40% of the retail price.

Drug distribution is a business and economics model, that needs controls because of abundant frauds. The best way for government and NGO intermediaries to work in this market for the benefit of consumers is to build a voluntary discount list based on the promise of manufacturers to rebate part of the retail price. Pharmacists and pharmacies may simply recover the discount amounts in normal trade arrangements, for those patients who have the qualifying identity card (a smart card would be ideal).

This arrangement allows manufacturers to participate in retail discounting for the benefit of indigent consumers without affecting other trade relationships. It also gives manufacturers another tool to trap illicit distribution, which is good for everybody.

[momandfamily]

What a joke this article is!!! Makes you wonder who's pulling this writers strings, huh?

[erasmus6]

Boy am I glad I don't live in the U.S.!!