Smart Patients Cut Costs

“This drug will cost me how much?”

If you’ve ever been shocked at a pharmacy checkout, it’s probably because you didn’t ask your doctor about prices in advance. Most patients don’t even ask about the cost of medical tests or surgeries that could run into the thousands of dollars.

Prices can vary widely for similar or identical treatments—and there may be a lot you can do to limit what you pay out of pocket.

Here are suggestions to help keep your costs in line:

• Compare drug prices up front. You can see on the shelf how much brand-name aspirin costs next to the store brand. It’s the same with prescription drugs: Ask your doctor if you can get a lower-cost generic version. There may even be an equally effective over-the-counter option that can meet your needs at a rock-bottom price—but you’ll have to ask.

• Check the price of doctor and hospital services, too. A few large insurers post these rates online for their members. The federal government now provides information about how much it pays for certain doctor services and hospital and outpatient procedures, listed by state and county, at the Web site http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HealthCareConInit. When comparing prices, be sure to take into account quality. At http://www.healthgrades.com , for example, you can obtain a $17.95 report showing both a hospital’s quality ratings and its price listings.

• Make sure everyone treating you is on your health plan. Your primary care doctor may be on the network of providers, but what about the diabetes specialist your doctor recommends, or the surgical team that’s slated to do your hernia repair? It pays to ask. If a hospital or doctor is not eligible for top-dollar coverage, you could get a whopping bill.

• Read your health plan booklet. Some health plans cover alternative treatments such as chiropractic care or acupuncture; or give discounts on health club memberships, bicycle helmets, or other preventive measures. What’s more, many plans require you to ask their approval before undergoing certain medical tests or seeing a specialist. If you don’t follow directions, you may have to pay the entire bill.

• Be alert for billing mistakes. Some people check every supermarket receipt, but they’re more likely to find errors on a hospital bill. 

Smart consumers can find big savings here and there—they just need to know where to look.