Posts Tagged ‘doctor’
Should I Negotiate My Rate with My Doctor?
Posted by Todd Fries | Filed under Health Insurance
Absolutely! Don’t be shy about asking your doctor how much he’ll charge for any particular procedure he recommends, or you want done. Patients who don’t have insurance discuss their medical bills, why shouldn’t you? Here’s a great article by FreeHealth.com that goes into more detail on how to negotiate with your doctor.
Many doctors think that since you have insurance, you shouldn’t be concerned because the carriers “pay anyway”. But don’t forget, your plan has a deductible, co-payment, and coinsurance. Even with the most comprehensive plan, you will incur some of those costs if your calendar year’s “maximum out of pocket” is not met. You don’t want to leave your doctor’s office only to find out a month later when you get the bill you owe way more than expected.
If you need a test or an operation, ask your doctor to recommend more than one facility so you can not only get the best doctor, but compare what each specialist charges.
Check out this CBS Report and learn how one woman pays only a fraction of her medical costs.
A CBS News Report: Negotiating With Your Doctor - “In order to cut down on administrative costs, many doctors have been negotiating their bill directly with patients. Wyatt Andrews explains how paying cash can save patients a bundle.”
