Saving Money
Cut Prescription Costs:
Check Out Cheaper Alternatives: Talk to your doctor about nutritional supplements that may be less expensive than medication for your illness. An Internet search will likely turn up different alternatives. For example, St. John's Wort has been found in some studies to be as effective as prescription antidepressants, while valerian may be used by some instead of sleeping medication. But be careful! "Natural" does not mean it's automatically safe. Always discuss any herbs or supplements with your health care practitioner.
Order By Phone: If you do have a health care plan that includes prescription benefits, you may find it (much) cheaper to order from a participating mail order pharmacy. Ask your health plan provider.
Savings Strategies If You're Hospitalized
Going to the hospital - either as an inpatient or outpatient -- can be stressful, no matter what the circumstances.Then there's the "sticker shock" when you get the bill! Here are some strategies for cutting those costs.
Get the Go Ahead: Find out if a medical procedure you're having requires prior authorization. If it does, and you fail to get the authorization, you may be stuck with the whole bill! Even if you're admitted because of an emergency, most insurance companies require you to notify them within 48 hours. Make sure your spouse or family members have copies of your insurance cards in case they are needed.
Ask Before You Go: You can also ask the hospital to prepare an estimate of the cost of your stay before you go in.Whether or not you have insurance, this can help you work out a payment plan beforehand, rather than waiting until you're trying to recuperate.
Don't Check In On the Weekend: Unless it's an emergency, avoid checking into a hospital near the end of the week, and especially the weekend. It can be notoriously difficult to get lab or other test results back, and doctors may be scarce.You may feel fine but be unable to get discharged!
Check Out As Soon As You Can: Don't put your health at risk if you need to be in the hospital, but if you think you can recuperate at home, ask your doctor if you can be checked out as soon as possible.
Review Your Bill Carefully: An estimated 75 - 95% of hospital bills contain errors, adding up to more than $10 billion annually, according to the U.S. General Accounting Office. According to Equifax Services, the average consumer overpays by $1300! Always ask for an itemized bill of the services you received while in the hospital and review them carefully. Look for double-billing, charges for services or medication you didn't receive, or dates of service that don't correspond with your stay. Wrong billing codes can also result in bills for a procedure you didn't have.
