Medical bills seem to be on everyone’s minds today. For some, the mounting debt is overwhelming and they can’t seem to find a way to deal with the ever-increasing charges. For others, the idea of having a medical emergency haunts them as they aren’t sure their insurance will do them any good. No matter what situation you’re in, there are some ways you can help cut down on the amount of medical bills you have. This may help save you thousands of dollars or at least cut back on the amount of worry you put into your health. With the Affordable Care Act potentially being dismantled and other programs losing funding, you may want to keep these concepts in mind, so you don’t end up owing your health service center a large fortune.
1. Know Your Insurance
One of the main problems people face in the medical world is their insurance company. Sure, the company sends out a pamphlet every year with your rights and your insurance plan, but these are often confusing and don’t really cover everything necessary. So, many people head to the doctor without a second thought or schedule a procedure then end up with a hefty bill. Before you do anything medical, you should always try to call up your insurance company and talk to them about your plan. They will be able to tell you how much they will cover, so you won’t end up with a surprise. You should also take the time to learn about providers in your area. Some insurance plans make deals with certain providers, which helps save you money. Knowing your deductible is important too, so you can adjust it when need be or make plans to have the out of pocket expenses in your savings account before the debt hits.
2. Shop Around
A lot of people don’t treat insurance or finding a doctor like a shopping trip, but this can be an important way for you to save a whole lot of money. Not all insurance companies are made equal, so check out reviews, policies and ask those you know how they feel about their insurance. Doctors are another must when it comes to saving money. Not all doctors charge the same, so you may find that you’ve enrolled with a doctor who offers poor quality service at high quality prices. Your insurance company should have a section that provides each doctor in your network with a review as well as a basic estimate of what they charge. Of course, you should always branch out and do some research on your own by asking other patients how they feel about the doctor and checking online review sites. When you find someone you like then stick with them as enrolling with a doctor can take quite some time if you live in a region that doesn’t have enough doctors.
3. Ask For Generic
One of the major purchases many people have to do deal with is medication. Although insurance often covers a decent portion of this medication, you might find yourself paying a small fortune for the rest, especially if your doctor prescribes name brand medication. With so many prices skyrocketing this year, you’ll want to be careful as to what is prescribed for you as there is often a ridiculous different between the generic and name brand product. Most doctors won’t ask before prescribing, so before you leave the office make sure you talk to your doctor about the switch. There shouldn’t be a problem with this request and if there is then you may want to consider switching doctors. Generic forms are often fully covered by insurance though, so you could find yourself saving thousands each year just by having a brief conversation with the doctor.
4. Consider Options
Sometimes, doctors will request that you do something you’re not entirely comfortable with or something that may be way too expensive for you even with the help of insurance. You do have every right to question these practices, so don’t feel like you have to do exactly as your doctor says. For instance, if you are having problems with anxiety then you may want to stop and try a natural remedy to deal with the problem. If this doesn’t work then you can always go with the doctors method later. This will take some research on your end though and you should always stay in communication with your physician, especially if the problem seems to be getting worse.
5. Create a Payment Plan
Medical bills can be unavoidable at times in our lives. Whether you give birth, are in an accident or are fighting off a critical illness, the price of your care can begin to add up. Luckily, many doctors and hospitals understand that you’re not made of money and that insurance companies aren’t exactly the most understanding people. Due to this, many facilities will work out payment plans with you, so you won’t have to stress about the huge lump sum up front. Make sure you talk with the financial department in your doctor’s office or the hospital to see what plans you can come up with for your budget. This should help you feel a bit more relief over the mounting debt and will help keep collection agencies from hounding you in your time of need or recovery.
6. Question Procedures
When it comes to your medical care, it is often hard to remember that you’re actually in control of the situation. Your doctor is only there to recommend something to help with your problem. If you’re not comfortable with this then you do have the right to refuse the practice, especially if you want time to research it or talk to your insurance company about it. This can range from small to large procedures too, but do exercise precautions when you do this as you don’t want to put yourself at risk for further problems due to money. These procedures can even be for medical tests like urine samples and drawing blood. If you feel it unnecessary or over excessive then skip the procedure. This is especially true if it seems like you are always having blood drawn for the same tests as the price does add up on these items.
7. Financial Assistance
Even if you already have insurance you may qualify for extra assistance if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to apply for it. Many states do offer supplemental options for those who may be facing crippling debt due to medical bills. There are many programs developed for the elderly, terminally ill and pregnant women, so do a bit of research to see if there’s anything that the government can do to lend a helping hand. Many of these programs are designed to help those with an income under a certain level, but if you feel like there me be a slight inkling that you may get help it would be wise to apply. The worst you can get is a rejection for your efforts. If supplemental help isn’t in your future then contacting your hospitals financial department might be wise too. Sometimes, they will offer debt forgiveness or will cut a portion of the debt down to help you. This can really take a huge burden off of your shoulders.
8. Consider Lifestyle Changes
Believe it or not, but a lot of the medical problems treated today are actually related to people’s lifestyle choices. One way to avoid all of the high costs of the medical field is to change the way you live to suit a healthier and happier lifestyle. Make sure you get in at least 30 minutes of walking a day to help keep your body moving properly. If you can, exercise on a regular basis too and try out new ways of keeping in shape. Cardio is a great way to get rid of colds and prevent them from happening in the first place. Soothing activities like yoga or Pilates can reduce stress and depression. So planning a well-rounded exercise regime is sure to help you cover all grounds. Your diet plays a key factor in what is going on with your body too. Make sure you keep your red meat consumption down and fill your plate with leafy greens and other colorful vegetables. Ditching soft drinks and junk food can also help you feel a million times better than ever before. Try ditching bad habits like smoking, vaping and drinking alcohol as well to improve your overall health. Apart from that, you may also consider vitamins and other supplements to improve health problems that have been previously diagnosed.
9. Review Bills
Bills can be pretty overwhelming, especially when you don’t work in the medical profession. The medical jargon is hard to understand and often the list of services gets to be a bit too much. That is why many people blindly accept the bills that they are given for the services they received. This can cause you to throw away a whole lot of money though. If you’re feeling a little queasy when you look at your medical bills, then don’t stress out about it. There is actually assistance you can get for reviewing your bill. You can contact your doctor’s office or hospital to allow them to explain each and every charge to you at no cost. Of course, there are also professional services that will do this for your too, but you may have to pay them. If you don’t agree with certain charges, then take the time to dispute them. Sometimes, they will remove the item from your bills without putting up any fight. You may even find a mistake on your bill, which is something you should always challenge as there is no sense paying for something you didn’t receive. All in all, taking this step every time you get a bill can help you save hundreds of dollars.
10. Tax Deduction
Getting around medical bills entirely may be impossible, especially if you have a lot of them mounting up. However, you can actually use the amount of money you pay into your medical bills as a tax deduction. When you pay a bill, make sure you get a receipt for the payment and keep it safe in your records. This will allow you to add up all of the money that you paid in throughout the year and will provide you with the proof that you did so. When tax season rolls around check out the amount you paid and see if it equals out to 10% of your income. If it does, then you may have some deductions coming your way. Of course, you probably won’t end up getting the full amount back, or even anywhere near it but every little bit will help when you’re working to pay off your bills.
Medical bills are a part of life, but they don’t have to absorb your life if you don’t want them to. These tips should help you cut back on the amount of money you have to spend on paying the bills, so you feel a bit more relaxed about the services you are receiving. With any luck, you’ll be able to save some money on the charges, so you don’t have to stress while working on getting your body and mind healthy.
