8 Tips for Saving Money on Your Healthcare

1. Become knowledgeable about your health insurance policy- even a summary of your policy or a quick phone call to an insurance representative can give you money-saving tips, like the ability to use a specialist for web-based doctor visits at half the price of a normal visit and other perks you may not know about that are included in your policy. Reading through your insurance policy can give you important information that you weren't aware of. Example) Client's insurance charges $80 to see a specialist at the office, but only $40 for a specialist if using MDLive, saving 50% per visit.
2. Find out why your health insurance is denying your treatment, prescription, therapy, etc.- the denial letter will tell you exactly what you need to be able to fight them. This is vital information you can use to appeal a denial and have a great chance of winning. Example) Client was denied residential treatment for psychiatric care, due to insurance stating she didn't qualify for such extensive treatment. It turned out the insurance company had the wrong diagnosis code. Finding good data to argue your case and working alongside your doctor can help tremendously, as well.
3. Don't use your insurance- many people have high-deductible insurance (over $1,350 per year per individual) and may never come close to meeting their deductible or out-of-pocket max; therefore, paying toward a deductible is pointless. Sometimes paying in cash up front can save you money (even for prescriptions- some prescription cards can save you if you don't use your insurance). Example) Client needed an MRI and was sent to a hospital where, even with health insurance, it would cost hundreds of dollars more than paying in cash at a free-standing facility. Since the client had a high deductible and would likely never meet it over the course of the year, he chose to pay the cheaper price out-of-pocket, saving hundreds of dollars.
4. Check your bills to make sure insurance is covering what they should- many bills I see are high because they were never sent through insurance at all. Sometimes bills are more complicated than they seem and clients have to be proactive. Comparing bills with your Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) to make sure they are correct can save you money. Example) Client sent me a high ambulance bill. It turns out it was never run through insurance because the patient was unconscious and could not sign; therefore, the patient's next-of-kin needed to call and request the bill to be sent through insurance. The signature was needed to be able to utilize the health insurance. It seems ridiculous that one would need to be conscious to use their insurance, but sometimes just looking over the bills can really help.
5. Only use in-network facilities and doctors- unless you are in an emergency, always check to make sure those doctors that come by to check on you in the hospital are in-network. You are welcome to ask. If they are out-of-network, you are able to refuse their services. Conversely, if you are in an emergency, you are able to appeal out-of-network charges, because you have no choice but to use the out-of-network doctors. Example) Client was in a coma but was charged for out-of-network services while hospitalized. I appealed to the insurance company and they reran everything as in-network, since a coma is considered a medical emergency. If you are in a medical emergency, overturning out-of-network charges (to in-network) can be easy if you ask.
6. Ask questions- asking questions about prescriptions, treatments, and tests can save you money and side effects. There are times we don't even need to be on medications after a period of time, but our doctor may not think about it. It doesn't hurt to ask every few months to make sure. Our doctor may order a test or scan we don't need, like a CT scan instead of a less expensive ultrasound. We may be prescribed physical therapy that isn't covered by insurance or that is out-of-network (we will pay the whole thing, then get reimbursed for only a small portion of the cost after sending in the claims). We need to be pro-active as patients and ask questions. How can we make this cheaper and still get what we need? Example) Client is having joint pain and makes an appointment at a rheumatologist. The doctor immediately orders X-rays, and even suggests an MRI, instead of trying a few weeks of anti-inflammatory medication first. Many times, unnecessary tests can wait until absolutely unavoidable and necessary for diagnosis and treatment.
7. Negotiate- there is always a way to negotiate high hospital bills. Everyone can get 10% off just by asking- but you have to ask! Hospitals are also open to payment plans and other types of help. Example) Client hired me to help with a high hospital bill, and is ready to pay today. I called the hospital and they offered 10%. I asked politely if she could take off more, then 15%, then we settled on 20% off of the original cost, saving my client over $700. Being polite works wonders for negotiating bills, as well as having the ability to pay off a high bill quickly. Sometimes, even out-of-network doctors who balance bill you will forgive some or all of your bill if you ask nicely!
8. Write letters- writing letters to insurance companies and medical staff is invaluable to communicate your needs. A well-written letter, with peer-reviewed literature to back the data, can help you get just about any medical need covered, along with your doctor's help. You can also write letters to your doctor and their staff regarding your care, especially if you feel something needs to change or isn't being addressed. Sometimes having someone who is familiar with writing these types of letters can help dramatically, but clients have the ability to appeal to insurance on their own, too. Example) Client wanted to have her baby at a birthing center instead of a hospital, but there weren't any birthing centers within 30 miles of her residence that were in-network, only out-of-network, costing thousands of dollars more. She appealed the out-of-network coverage and won. If she would have never written the appeal letter explaining why they should charge in-network, she would have paid much higher rates for her birth. A properly written appeal letter can have dramatic effects.

These are just a few of the many ways we can all save money when it comes to our healthcare. Being proactive, knowledgeable consumers of healthcare can help keep costs down as much as possible by working to ensure we are utilizing our health insurance to the fullest capacity and communicating with our doctor fully, allowing informed consent to guide our actions. American healthcare is still the most expensive in the world, but paying attention and asking questions can save you thousands of dollars.

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