When it comes to cutting budgetary corners, health care is the one place you probably don't want to scrimp. But there are ways to cut down on ancillary costs without putting yourself at risk.1. Ask if there's a less convenient drug.
Some big-ticket drugs, like the osteoporosis-fighter Boniva, offer the same medical benefits as less expensive generics, but with a convenience factor thrown in. For instance, you only have to take Boniva once a month instead of one a week - jacking up the price by almost $100. If your insurance charges more for brand names, you could be missing out - especially since doctors don't always offer the generic over the name brand. This TK study shows how often.
SAVINGS: $30 (Assuming a higher co-pay for brand name drugs)
2. Don't insist on an MD.
Don't be seduced by the white coat. In some cases you'll be better served with a nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or nutritionist. TK MORE
SAVINGS: TK
3. Question everything.
In order to keep their malpractice insurance down, doctors sometimes go a little overboard on tests: MRIs, echocardiograms, stress tests... be sure to ask what, exactly, the tests are for, and how necessary they are.
SAVINGS: TK
4. Shop around.
A study at Washington University in St. Louis found that surgeon's prices varied widely - even within the same hospital. It may feel tacky to discuss the price of a procedure when your health is on the line, but the difference could be thousands of dollars. If you have to get the surgery anyway, why pay more?
5. Create a master file.
Your parents lied: there is no "permanent record" that follows you through life. It's not true for your high school misbehavior and it's not true for your medical history. Take control of your information by tracking and storing copies of all tests, medications, and procedures you've undergone. This prevents medical goose chases, duplicated tests, and other time wasters that can cost you money.
TK 5 MORE. THE FORMAT AND SOURCING WILL BE SIMILAR TO THIS ARTICLE I WROTE A FEW YEARS AGO:
No comments:
Post a Comment