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How to save money on out-of-pocket health care costs
Associated Press
If you’re uninsured or in a health plan that requires you to pay a high annual deductible, you may be interested in learning more about the price of medical procedures. Here are some tips from the experts:
–Shop around because prices vary greatly. A colonoscopy can cost $1,300 at a hospital and $550 across town at an outpatient surgery center. That’s because different institutions are able to negotiate different prices from commercial insurers based on their position in the market.
–Uninsured? Look out. People without an insurance company negotiating for them end up being charged the highest prices. Still, uninsured patients who ask can sometimes get a discount of 20 percent, or possibly qualify for charity care.
–Ask your insurance company who’s in the network. Only certain facilities and doctors have signed agreements with your insurance company. If you go “out of network,” you’ll be charged more.
–Don’t expect your doctor’s office to alert you if they don’t accept your insurance. It’s your responsibility to ask your insurance company who’s in the network
