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Cutting Health Care
Costs:
Small Steps Can Lead to Big Savings
By Ghassan
Salman, M.D., M.P.H., FACP
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Health care can be expensive,
but there are simple ways to manage costs that can save you
hundreds—even thousands—of dollars each year. From making a
five-minute phone call to choosing fruit over fast food, these
often-overlooked money-saving steps can help keep you
physically and financially healthy.
Know your health insurance
plan. While your health insurance plan’s benefits manual may
not be your first choice of a good read, taking the time to
understand exactly what your plan covers is one of the most
effective ways to save on health care. Do you know what your
yearly deductible is and if you’ve met it? A deductible is the
amount you have to pay before the insurance company begins
paying for some services. If you’ve already met your
deductible for the year, make sure to schedule any upcoming
tests and
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procedures before the start of the next
deductible year. Another sure-fire way to save money is to visit
only doctors that participate in your insurance company’s
network. Going out of network can cost you as much as 50 percent
more. Check your benefits manual or make a quick call to the
insurance company before you make a doctor’s appointment.
Another way to save is to play by the rules. Do you need a
referral to see a specialist? Do you need to call your insurance
company if you’re being admitted to the hospital? Not knowing
your insurance company’s requirements for receiving benefits can
mean that you end up paying more out of pocket than you should.
Review your bills. You review your restaurant bill for errors so
why not your medical bills? Even though hospital and doctor’s
bills can be complex, spending the time to understand what
you’re being charged for can help you catch costly mistakes.
From duplicate billing for services and supplies to mistakes on
the number of days you’ve been in the hospital, simple human
error can raise a hospital bill by thousands of dollars. If
you’re in the hospital for any length of time, have a family
member or friend help you track which tests or services you’ve
received and when. Make sure that the hospital didn’t mistakenly
charge you for four X-rays when you only had three or that a
cancelled blood test wasn’t added to your bill. Ask the hospital
to provide you with an explanation of costs that fall under
“miscellaneous.”
If you do catch errors, contact the hospital’s billing
department. Then contact your insurance company and let them
know as well. Your insurance company can help you advocate for
corrections since mistakes may have cost them, too. If you need
help understanding a complex and costly bill, it may be worth it
to hire a claims assistance professional who understands medical
billing and who is trained to spot billing errors.
Cut prescription drug costs. If a doctor gives you a
prescription, you should never try to save money by not filling
it. But there are ways to reduce medicine costs. Ask your doctor
if you can use a generic drug instead of one with a brand name.
Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as a brand-name
drug but can cost much less. While not all drugs have a generic
version, about half on the market do. In addition, don’t forget
to ask the doctor if he or she has samples of a medication so
you can try it to see if it works or if you have any adverse
reactions before paying for a prescription.
If you’re filling a prescription, shop price just like you would
for any other product. Don’t always assume that one discount
store is your best bet. Oftentimes prices for medications vary
from pharmacy to pharmacy so call for price quotes. In addition,
filling a prescription by mail or online can be less expensive
as well as more convenient. Many health insurance companies
offer large discounts on medications that are filled three
months at a time. Once your prescription is filled, don’t forget
to take it. Not taking a medication as often as you should or
not finishing the prescription can result in a return trip to
the doctor’s office—and another prescription refill.
Take responsibility for your health. An ounce of prevention.
You’ve heard the saying, but are you applying it to your health?
One of the simplest ways to avoid medical costs is to avoid
preventable illnesses. If you smoke, quit. Almost 90 percent of
lung cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use. If you’re
overweight, eat a healthier diet and start exercising to help
prevent several costly diseases, including heart disease,
diabetes and cancer. Seeing your doctor regularly can also save
you money in the long run. Yearly physicals can detect minor
health problems that, if left untreated, can result in large
medical bills. Talk to your doctor about what health screening
tests you should have and how often. Many preventative
screenings are covered by health insurance or are offered free
or at reduced charges at local community health centers.
Illness isn’t the only reason for doctor’s and hospital visits.
Research shows that half of adults age 60 and older have
suffered an injury at home—sixty percent of those injuries were
serious enough to require medical care. Putting inexpensive
safety measures into place can reduce your risk of in-home falls
and fires, the top two causes of injuries to seniors. For
example, make sure stairways have bright lighting and that there
are handrails on both sides of the stairs. Install grab bars in
the shower and get rid of loose throw rugs that can cause you to
trip and fall. Check your fire alarms monthly to make sure
they’re working and develop a fire escape plan.
Nothing is more important than your health. Cutting corners on
needed health care to save money is never a good option. But
learning ways to reduce your costs is.
Dr. Ghassan Salman is
an Internal Medicine specialist and Assistant Medical Director
for
The Austin Diagnostic Clinic. His office is located at the Main
Clinic at 12221 MoPac
Expressway North. Call 901-1111 or visit www.adclinic.com.
The Austin Diagnostic
Clinic (ADC) is a multi-specialty clinic with physicians
representing 24 medical specialties at more than 10 locations.
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