Know-How Saves Your Healthcare Dollars

As a society we currently are questioning everything we know about healthcare. We wonder if we know who we can trust, where to get the best care for the best price, and what is the best health insurance out there. There is change coming but the truth is that a majority of people have the tools to get the best care for the best price.

Many people have had to take insurances with large deductible due to the high cost of insurance. They are paying anywhere from $250 to $5000 out of pocket before their insurance will start covering expenses. It is important that you know your personal policy and what it pays for. It is also important to know what it excludes. If you do have a question an d you call customer service you should be aware that you should keep the name of the person you talked to and ask them for an account number for the phone call. You should also know that the information they gave you may be incorrect and even if it is incorrect the company is not responsible for the incorrect information. At the end of the call they will always refer you back to your written policy to get the correct information.

If you have a large deductible and you know that you will not be using your insurance then talk to the health care provider about their cash price and what is the best they can do. Many facilities give a good discount for cash patients. If you tell them that you have insurance they will only be able to give you the price the insurance negotiated with the practice. Once you have had the procedure you can submit your bill to the insurance company and they can apply it to your deductible.

If you have an HMO or a Health Maintenance Organization plan make sure that any procedure you have is covered and that if it needs a prior authorization that you have arranged to get one from your primary care doctor. Even if a specialist orders the procedure it is your primary care doctor who has to issue an authorization. If the test is done without an authorization they can bill you for the procedure at the price the insurance company would have paid.

It is important to shop around. Different companies have different contracts with insurance companies. An example of this would be a sleep lab. A hospital based lab will tend to be more expensive then an independent testing facility. But you want to maker sure the lab you are going to has been accredited. This will let you know that the lab met certain minimum criteria.

Remember you are the person who has control of your money. Your decision should always be based on honesty. You can always call and ask question of a provider before making a decision to schedule an appointment.