The medical industry, unlike virtually every other business, loves to keep their prices top secret. They do this, very purely, so they can make more money. Only by shopping your medical care, demanding price transparency, negotiating for the best price, and carefully reviewing your bill can you be certain that you are getting a fair price, and not being ripped off.
Hospitals often go to extraordinary lengths to put off you from delving too much into your bill. Nevertheless, there are some exact things you can do to make sure you're not getting taken for a ride.
• If possible, call the hospital's billing department ahead of time and ask them what you will be charged for a room and what that charge includes. If it does not include something you might want, such as tissues, bring your own.
• Ask your doctor to calculate your cost of treatment.
• Bring your own prescription medications to avoid paying good price for medications purchased from the hospital.
• If possible, medications, keep your own lists of tests and treatments. Hospitals have been known to charge men for pregnancy tests and adults for newborn test.
• Never pay the bills before leaving the hospital. You may be told this is necessary, but it is not. Before paying your bill read it carefully, and compare it to the probable costs you were given before being admitted.
• Demand an itemized bill, and ask for a complete explanation for any items you don't understand. Don't accept generic answers like "miscellaneous fees"or "lab fees".
Health Savings Accounts Promote Price Transparency
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are plans that have a high deductible, and a savings account in which tax-deductible contributions can be located. The money in the account can be used to pay deductibles and other charges not enclosed by health insurance. The great assure of health savings accounts is that they will re-inject market competition into the healthcare market.
Health Savings Accounts are now altering all that. Millions of people have purchase these plans because of the lower premiums and tax advantages they offer. This has made consumers much more attentive of what they are being charged. By demanding to know prices up front, HSA holders will begin to force medical providers to compete on price and quality, just like any other business does.
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