Self Pay Mammograms

By the age of 40, physicians and the National Cancer Institute recommend that women get a mammogram every 1 -2 years. When I called the imaging center in my neighborhood, the office could not tell me how much it cost for a "self pay" customer. After talking to several different people in biling, they gave me a price of $160. My insurance company's negotiated rate was $168.50 with many caveats: is it performed in a Dr's office vs. outpatient center. As a result, I'll opt for self pay, but only after I call a few more centers to see if I can negotiate a better price.

Orthodontia - how to save on braces

If you have dental insurance, it usually does not cover orthodontia, or if it does, insurance only pays a small percentage of the entire bill. Discounts can be found at local dental schools. Many large universities have a dental school and the dental students' (interns) post graduate work includes working in the university dental clinic. Besides getting almost 30% discount on a full set of braces, the clinics are typically using state-of-the-art procedures and the interns are under direct supervision of a seasoned orthodontist. Next blog update, I will need to investigate other dental procedures and available discounts.

School Sports Physicals - Booster's Club

Most states require an annual sports physical for children playing sports for their school or attending a summer camp. Every year I would make an appointment at the pediatrician's office for all the kids: call for schedule availability, wait in the office, get the examination, fill out the required paperwork, then pay the $180 bill per child. I did this drill every year until our school Athletic Boosters Club offered school physicals at a discount. The boosters club contacted a local family practitioner to come to the school for two hours to conduct sports physicals for any of the students. Thankfully, he brought 9 resident physicians to help with the physicals and eliminate long wait lines. Cost? Parents paid $25 per student. Not only did the parents get a great deal, the boosters made money and the school collected the school physical forms that evening to update their files. Recommend this idea to your schools Athletic Booster club to save money.

Prevention - the Best Health Savings

Many people, especially those without insurance, will wait until they are sick before they see a physician. Certainly, it is expensive to schedule an annual appointment: the physicians visit, the laboratory tests, the follow-up visit and perhaps more tests. One must have time and money and most individuals will opt not to go until they feel sick. Unfortunately, there are some secret killers such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, to name a few. Most of these illnesses can be diagnose by yourself; no doctors appointment needed. Almost all the large grocery stores, discount clubs and pharmacies have a blood pressure cuff. Heart disease indicators, glucose, PSA, thyroid and others issues can be measured without a doctors appointment by ordering your own blood tests online. The tests are inexpensive and then you can see a physician if you have any indicators out of range. Money well spent. See my other posting to get the online lab site and you can save $$ and take control of your own preventative health care: www.HealthOneLabs.com

High Deductible Health Care Premiums

Inadvertantly, I was calling to get some marketing information and I ended up talking to a salesperson about health care premiums. He was a broker that handled many insurance companies and suggested I let him give me a quote for a new company in the health insurance industry. I am currently paying $320/month for a family of five which includes a dental rider. Note that this is a high deductible plan, so must of my health care costs are out-of-pocket and I primarily have this for catastrophic health events. I do have a Health Savings Account (HSA), so I can pay for all qualified health care expenses through my tax-free account that I fund annually. I will share any monthly savings once I get a new quote from the new insurance company.

Affordable Vaccinations

Most counties and cities offer free children's vaccinations through the Health & Human Services. Given the fact that most vaccinations can cost almost $100, you may want to call to see what services are offered and if you can take advantage of them. One county has a minimal fee and another gives the shots for free. Keep careful records of all vaccinations as they are required for most school-aged children to enter certain grades.

Discount Lab Tests

During a recent annual physical, the physician recommended some basic tests for cholesterol, thyroid, complete blood count, etc. These blood tests are great health indicators for many illnesses, but can be quite expensive. The office manager quoted me a price of $265 which did not include the $15 draw fee (to take my blood) or the $10 administrative fee. I found the same test, called a Women's Health Test on www.HealthOneLabs.com for only $85. I ordered the online test, downloaded a lab requisition form, went to my neighborhood lab testing office to get my blood drawn and my lab results were ready for me the next day when I logged back on to www.HealthOneLabs.com website. Convenient and it is the same approved lab that my physician's offices uses. Since my cholesterol was high, I can get a repeat test done for much cheaper, so I have put more money back into my pocket.

High Prescription Costs

Many of the physicians have no idea how much a prescription costs. Rightly so, the give you a scirpt based on the performance and efficacy of the drug for your condition. However, as a consumer, you may need to ask a few questions or get a few substitutes for the prescription. Before I switched to a HSA, I used to get my daughters monthly prescription for $40. That was my copay and I never knew how much was subsidized by insurance. Paying out of pocket, the pharmacy gave me the price of $175! I asked the pharmacist for the names and prices of medicine that would be suitable for the condition so I could discuss them with my pediatrician. After a few discussions, the pediatrician gave me a new prescription which cost $40 and has the same results. Related to this is an upcoming blog on why our health insurance premiums are so high.

High Deductibles - finding affordable health care

Many employers are now offering the high deductible health insurance to their employees. If you have one of these plans, most likely, you are a cost conscious health services consumer. That is, you will ask how much a physician visit will cost, the lab fees and any prescriptions before you even make an appointment. Many times the office manager doesn't know and asks you to discuss fees with the physician. I have found the physician doesn't know their price either because all charges are handled via insurance negotiated rates. Ask for the cash price and be persistant! It's much cheaper for them to accept a cash price and not submit to an insurance company for reimbursement, but you must ask and ask again. Using my health insurance negotiated rates for a dermatologist initial visit cost me $170. When I asked for a cash price, it was only $85. The savings are mine, just for asking.