Todays Gray Matters Valuing the Wisdom & Purpose In Aging Well
Can I Afford It?
Medical care doesn’t come cheap. As people live longer and their bodies begin to wear out they often find themselves with mounting costs and no increase in income to pay those costs. Here are 3 tips to help minimize health expenses.
1. Determine if you actually need to see your doctor or if you just need an answer to a question. Admittedly calling your doctor can be more difficult than actually going. “If you need English, press 1. If you know your party’s extension, you may press it at any time. Please listen carefully as our menu has changed.” By the time I get through the menu, which doesn’t contain an option for my situation, I could have driven to the office and asked my question! The phone call, however, shouldn’t cost anything and the office visit surely would.
2. Find out if there’s a lower price if you pay cash. Be prepared to pay out of pocket and then file insurance claims yourself. Doing so reduces the medical practice’s amount of paperwork and staff time. My own doctor might not like this option since I often work for tips and could pay in $1 bills. This would not reduce staff time!
3. Ask your doctor for the lowest price available. The worst that can happen is you hear prices are non-negotiable. Best case, you get good savings. Once I even had a doctor perform a procedure and not charge me for it because the practice had just discontinued taking my insurance. I did not ask for this gift but was extremely grateful for it.