How To Slash Your Health Care Costs by Mary Hunt on Creators.com

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How To Slash Your Health Care Costs

The cost of health care in America is skyrocketing. It's a fact I know well, having been hit with an 18.96 percent increase to my health insurance premium.

My first instinct was to cancel my insurance and take my chances. Then I came to my senses and placed an emergency call to Michelle Katz, author of "Healthcare for Less: Getting the Care You Need — Without Breaking the Bank."

Michelle gave me the advice I needed. She reminded me to ask for quotes from other health insurance providers in my area, and she offered tips to cut the cost of health care:

—Ask for a discount. You can negotiate with service providers for lower medical bills. According to the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, everything in health care is negotiable, especially if you are underinsured or have a high deductible.

—Cash upfront. Never be afraid to ask for a further discount from a health care provider or facility if you pay with cash. A 10 percent discount is reasonable.

—Use outpatient services. Many procedures, even simple surgeries and invasive tests, can be done without your being admitted as an inpatient. Arrange to arrive at the hospital first thing in the morning so you can be home by evening.

—Walk-in clinic. For routine issues, such as earaches and sore throats, visit a walk-in clinic in a retail store, such as CVS or Walmart. No appointment is necessary. Some clinics even take insurance.

—Get samples. When your doctor prescribes a new medication, ask whether it is a brand name. If so, ask whether there are generics or over-the-counter drugs that could do the same job.

At http://www.CRBestBuyDrugs.org, you can find reports that you can download and bring to your next appointment. If the brand name is a must, ask the doctor for samples so you can see how you respond before you spend the money for a month's worth.

—Be a splitter. High-dose pills generally are priced the same as their low-dose counterparts. Ask your doctor whether you can safely split a higher-dosage pill in half. Twice as many doses for the same amount of money can be like getting 50 percent off.

—Can't afford meds? If you have no prescription drug coverage, there are a number of public and private assistance programs that can help you pay for medications. Pharmaceutical companies run patient-assistance programs, and many states and other programs can help. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a site, http://www.pparx.org, developed by major pharmaceutical companies and patient-advocacy groups. If you are eligible, you can enroll in programs through this site. Another site, http://www.NeedyMeds.org, offers other prescription and drug assistance programs.

—An aspirin a day. Just one aspirin a day will keep the cardiologist away by sharply lowering your risk of a heart attack. Taking an aspirin a day costs about 20 cents a day. The cost to treat a heart attack — including hospital, doctor and medications — is tens of thousands of dollars and rising. Consult with your doctor before you take on an aspirin regimen.

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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