20 ways to keep your health-care costs down
As a health-care consumer, you can do a lot to keep your health-care costs low. Below is a list of ways to make the most of what your insurance has to offer.
1. Stay informed
Read the documents that your insurance company provides. Understand the services your insurance does and does not cover, deductibles, and coinsurance before you need to use them. Review your policy carefully once a year to make sure it matches the needs of your family.
2. Take charge
Even though most of your health care is covered by your insurance, reducing health-care costs begins with you. Comparison shop¬¬¬–after all, a treatment for your health is a major purchase. Taking an active role in your own medical treatment may be one of the most important decisions of your life.
3. Ask questions
Ask as many questions as you can. Doctors are there to inform and treat you.
4. Insist on “evidence-based” care
A substantial number of individuals do not receive care known to be effective for their condition. The use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients allows for the best treatment, quality of care, treatment and cost.
5. Seek a second opinion
Too few people with serious illnesses get second opinions before undergoing treatment. Never let a single serious diagnosis be your only diagnosis.
6. Research options
Whether you are seeking treatment options or facilities, do a little homework before making a decision.
7. Be prepared
Write down any questions, symptoms that you have or prescriptions that you are currently taking. Having a list ready ensures that you get all your questions answered and the doctor has all the information needed to make a diagnosis.
8. Make sure the doctor is in the network
When you get a referral for another doctor, lab or hospital, check to make sure it is in your insurance company’s network. Using a participating provider is required for maximum coverage.
9. Choose the proper place of service
If the patient’s life is not in danger, a provider’s office might be the most appropriate and economical choice for treatment. Going to the emergency room always costs you more than you would pay for a doctor’s office visit.
10. Use generic drugs if available
The FDA monitors generic drugs to assure that both brand name and their generic equivalent meet requirements for quality, strength, purity, and potency. Generics must contain the same active ingredients and produce the same effect on the body as the brand-name counterpart.
11. Use a mail order pharmacy
If you have ongoing prescriptions, look into a mail order pharmacy. Often you can get a three-month supply for less than the cost of a two-month supply from your local pharmacy.
12. Take advantage of health and case management programs offered by your insurer or local hospital
Many insurance companies and hospital offer program to individuals with chronic medical conditions.
13. Pay with pre-tax money
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) allow you to set aside pre-tax money from your paycheck to pay for eligible items like prescription and over-the-counter medications, co-payments, deductibles, coinsurance, dental expenses, and vision care. And because you don't pay federal taxes on the money, you're getting a "percent-off" discount on everything you pay for with your account.
14. Follow the doctor’s instructions
Whether it is diet, exercise, prescribed medications, or quitting smoking, not following the treatment instructions means you have wasted both your time and money without any benefit to your health.
15. Learn about your family’s medical history
Information about a patient’s family history can often provide clues to aid physicians in the early detection of some life-threatening diseases.
16. Keep your medical bills
You may be able to get a tax break on your medical bills. Keep all of your medical and prescription bills together so you can add them up at tax time. If they exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, you may deduct the excess. The cost of eyeglasses, contact lenses, physical therapy, X-rays, hearing aids, psychiatric care and transportation to the hospital or doctor’s office can also be included.
17. Know when to treat your aches on your own
Don’t see a doctor for ailments such as colds, occasional upset stomach or fatigue unless the symptoms persist.
18. Don’t pay twice for a second opinion
If you are seeing a specialist or getting a second opinion, ask your doctor to send copies of your medical records, X-rays, and lab tests to the second doctor. These tests don’t need duplication, your second doctor will have the pertinent information, and you won’t have to worry about costs for any unnecessary tests.
19. Take a lifestyle approach to wellness
Take charge of your health by making simple changes to your lifestyle. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night, eat breakfast, cut down on snacks, stay within 10 pounds of your recommended weight range, exercise regularly, don’t smoke and drink moderately.
20. Get as much of your treatment pre-approved as possible
Pre-approval of treatments will reduce billing problems later. Call your insurance company’s customer service department to find out how to get pre-approved.
Content provided by Geisinger Health Plan ~ 2008
