Discount from Your Doctors, Just Ask
Asking for a discount from your doctor, why not? I did, and it worked!
My employer-provided health insurance was terminated after I left the company. While shopping for my out-of-pocket self-support insurance, I had to make a visit to my primary care physician (PCP) office. As an uninsured individual, I would have to pay $40 co-pay.
I’ve been a patient at this doctor office for nearly ten years, so at the registration window, I asked the nurse if the doctor could offer me some ‘royalty discount.’ After a brief conversation in the doctor office, the nurse came back with a smiley face, and yes, they agreed to charge me $35. That’s an over 10% discount.
According to a LA Times story, this situation is far from unique. As monthly insurance premiums, deductibles and co-payments increase, even people with insurance can have trouble paying their out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Rising premiums also have prompted more people to choose high-deductible plans that require payments of about $1,200 or more before insurance will cover a dime for medical care. Employers too are turning to this option for workers. According to a recent health insurance report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20% of Americans with employer-provided coverage and 47% of those with individual coverage were enrolled in a high-deductible plan in 2009.
Here are some tips to help get the best price on medical services:
*Understand treatments
The best way to save money is to avoid care you don't need. Researchers with the Dartmouth Atlas Project have found that as much as 30% of healthcare is unnecessary. Patients are advised to ask their doctors precisely what is involved in the procedure, what it will be used for and if there are options. She also recommends getting a second opinion about the need for the treatment.
*Find the best price
Ask your doctor, hospital or other provider up front how much you'll be charged for the medical service you need. A recent survey-of-charges report by the insurance industry trade group America's Health Insurance Plans found that some doctors charged patients who did not have insurance as much as 1,000% more than the Medicare reimbursement rate for the same procedure. When negotiating for a better price, remember: Cash is king. Some providers will give anywhere from 10% to 60% off for paying cash, because it saves them time in having to bill you or set up a payment plan.
*Be careful about location
Setting makes a big difference too. If your doctor sends you to the hospital for imaging or labs, you'll pay significantly more on average, freestanding ambulatory centers and doctor's offices are typically less expensive.
*Get it in writing
After you've reached an agreement with your doctor or medical facility, get that price in writing.
向醫生討個優惠價
提到殺價，可能你腦海中浮現的是商場內購物的情景。有沒想過，你也可以和醫生討個折扣，讓自己更省錢？在經濟不景氣的現今社會，這種情況並不罕見！
自從失去公司提供的健保以後，我第一次被列入「無健保人士」行列。非常不湊巧的就是身體不適，需要去看醫生。這下可好了，每次看醫生的自付額，從有健保時的20美元，倍增至無健保者的40美元。作為一個已追隨該醫生整十年的病人，我就膽粗粗、臉皮厚厚地問護士，「有沒有老顧客折扣呀？」
她聽了之後也覺得有點錯愕，可能是從來都沒有病人像我一樣，去看醫生還會還討還價的。不過畢竟還是相熟的病人，她就走到後面去和醫生討論。結果她說，「好吧，醫生說只收你35美元。」雖然只是區區的5美元折扣，但是對我來說，還是滿足和感恩的。
經濟不景氣，大家能省則省，不要說無健保，即使有健保的人，也還有許多的自付額要承擔。
這裡提供幾項建議，讓大家參考在求診時能如何省錢：（取自洛杉磯時報文章）
*了解你接受的治療：確保沒有重覆、並且是必要的。研究顯示，有30%的療程是非必要性的。此外，接受治療前也應該徵詢另一位醫生或其他人的意見。
*醫療費用貨比三家：在接受任何治療前，先查詢清楚收費。研究顯示，在同一治療項目中，有健保與無健保者的收費差別可能高達1000倍。 要求打折時，可以支付現金，一些醫院因為省去索取保險金額的手續，為病人提供10%至60%的優惠。
*治療地點也很重要：同樣的治療，在醫院或診所進行，收費會相差很大。
*白紙與黑字寫清楚：如果在治療前醫生答應提供折價優惠，務必用白紙黑字寫清楚，以免事後無對證，啞子吃黃蓮。
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