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If your health insurance covers 80 percent of doctors' fees that means your costs are 80 percent covered. Right? Not necessarily!
Only 80 percent of fees the insurance company considers to be "reasonable and customary" are covered. What happens if your doctor charges $4,000 for a procedure your insurance company thinks should cost $3,500? Your insurer will only pay 80 percent of the $3,500, or $2,800. That leaves you with $1,200 to pay! Find out ahead of time how much your insurance company will pay for a procedure and tell your doctor you want to make sure his or her fee is covered by your insurance. Many physicians will agree not to charge more than that.
Money-Smart Health Care Choices
Don't repeat medical tests needlessly. If you change physicians or dentists, have your new doctor get copies of your records.
Buy generic drugs, both over-the-counter and prescription, and shop around for the best price. Generics are usually a lot cheaper than name-brand medications and almost always as safe and effective. Ask your doctor to prescribe generics when they're available.
Consider buying prescription drugs from mail-order pharmacies. Mail-order firms often charge less than your local druggist. One caveat: They can't fill prescriptions as quickly. But they're perfect for patients taking medication for long-term conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. Ask your personnel department if your company has a mail-order program or try a mail-order pharmacy. (For more information, see How to Save on Prescription Drugs.)
Avoid emergency rooms except in true emergencies. Show up at an emergency room at midnight with a problem that can wait until morning and you lose twice: You pay top
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dollar, and you wait for hours while the real emergencies are taken care of. Try your doctor or a 24-hour urgent-care center. (For more information on when to use the ER, read Before You Go to the ER, Read This.)
Get your children vaccinated, and make sure you are protected too. Although insurance may not cover their costs, immunizations are among the biggest bargains in medicine. Keep records and get boosters when needed. (For more information on children's vaccines, read Immunizations: Is Your Child Protected?)
Food for Thought
Here's what you'd pay today for a sampling of items if grocery prices had increased at the same rate as healthcare costs since the 1930s:
Article presented as printed on www.thehealthpages.com.
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