How to Keep Your Medical Bill Costs Low

Medical services in the United States are historically known to be some of the most most expensive in the entire world, averaging annual medical costs of almost $14,000 per person. Within a privatized healthcare system, insurance is the leading way to help you lower your medical costs. However, with the upfront costs of medical services, you may still look to lower the bills they owe outside of what their insurance can cover.

This article will provide methods to minimize all your medical expenses, using methods both within and outside your insurance plan.

Negotiate Your Medical Bills As a Patient

Many insurance plans will offer coverage for medical services as per an agreed upon coinsurance rate listed within each policy. What many individuals do not know is that on top of their plan coverage, they are also eligible to receive certain discounts that are provided by visiting an in-network provider.

The discounts received when visiting these doctors are pre-negotiated, so your bill may appear reduced before any insurance coverage is even applied. Remember that out-of-network providers will not be able to offer the same discounts, so contact your insurance company to find in-network doctors through your plan.

If your medical bill seems high after your visit, you may also request your doctor for a reduced fee for your payments. You should not feel intimidated to do so, as providers anticipate these questions, so they can work with you to provide a fee that meets your budgetary needs.

While income level plays a large factor in determining how much your fee can be reduced, do not be afraid to escalate your case and show that your medical bills may cause financial difficulties if you attempt to pay them on your own. Different providers may have varying policies regarding reduced fees, so you can also inquire how much your provider will be able to reduce when you request it.

Understanding Your Itemized Bill

Providers have flexibility to reduce rates if you inquire about doing so. Before starting, you’ll first need to review your medical bill to understand your charges, as well as your EOB (explanation of benefits), to understand how your insurance covered this service.

One way to make sure that the amount you are being charged is also the exact payment you owe is to request an itemized bill or statement after your visit. This is helpful in cases where you see a charge or item that you are unsure of or have questions about.

An itemized statement will provide a list of the services you received and what the expected cost is for each, so you should review this even if you do not have any questions about your medical bill. This will also help you be informed on exactly what you’re being charged if you have claims issues in the future.

What are Patient Advocacy Groups and Charity Care?

Another option to outreach to in cases of unexpectedly high bills is to a patient advocacy group. These organizations exist to help patients with certain conditions by offering awareness of their cases along with financial resource assistance and programs.

A more comprehensive list of patient organizations in the United States can be found here.

There are also a variety of charity care and programs are also offered to patients with insufficient funds to pay for their medical services and can still be provided even if you have health insurance. You will typically have to apply for this benefit and can request to do so when at the doctor.

One final option that patients have is to request a different method to pay your bill off. It may be more cost-efficient to request a payment plan so you can spread your bills out in a more payable fashion, or to see if paying a smaller lump sum at the time of your visit will settle your bill in full instead.

For any of the above, please ask about all criteria that your provider may require when considering your eligibility for each program.

How Insurance Can Help You

It’s very easy for medical service costs to get out of hand, but the best way that you can receive coverage on behalf of any service that you have is through a dedicated health insurance plan.

Private health insurance companies like ISO Student Health Insurance offer plans for international visitors across all visa statuses. Those with financial difficulties can find favor in more cost-affordable plans, while still retaining comprehensive benefits. Knowing how to mitigate your medical costs in the U.S. allows you to enjoy more medical services without the same level of stress as if you were paying for them in full, giving you more peace of mind.