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Primary Care


Learn the basics of Primary Care

  • How to get an appointment with your doctor faster

    You call your physician to schedule an appointment, only to be told that the next appointment is a week away! Or you call your doctor about a fever, only for them to say that the…

  • How to see a PCP without insurance

    You can go to any primary care office and negotiate a cash rate. Many give a 30-50% discount off their list price if you call and ask before you go. But the real answer you’re…


Specialists

  • For which illnesses is it still better to be seen in-person?
    With the COVID-19 outbreak, many physician practices have promoted virtual care. Indeed these can be very beneficial to patients and you may not think more of it when you are asked to convert your visit…
  • How to be seen on time by your doctor
    It is not uncommon to have to wait 30 or even 60 minutes at a doctor’s office. This is due to a number of factors: Appointment schedules that are not optimized or designed for how…
  • Read what doctors are reading about your condition
    The best evidence-based, online resource for patients is uptodate.com. Unfortunately it is not free. The price is about $50 for a 30-day period. But many introductory articles are free. The unfortunate truth about many health…

Learn the basics about Specialists


Hospitals


Learn the basics about Hospitals


Insurance


Learn the basics about Insurance

  • Reduce your chance of being balance billed

    Balance billing is when a healthcare provider charges you a bill even after your insurance has paid them. Balance billing often happens when the physician or health care company is out-of-network. That is, the insurance…

  • How to see a PCP without insurance

    You can go to any primary care office and negotiate a cash rate. Many give a 30-50% discount off their list price if you call and ask before you go. But the real answer you’re…


Pricing

  • How much this author’s family spent to have a baby
    With some creativity, frugality, and generous friends you can keep the cost of having a child low. The key is choosing a low out-of-pocket maximum health insurance plan during open enrollment the year before. Item…
  • Know the cost of an ambulance before you need it
    Many Americans are hesitant to call an ambulance because of the unknown costs, preferring a family member to take them. This is ultimately a decision you need to make, but what can help is knowing…
  • Your options when you get asked to pay before you are seen
    With more patients on higher deductible plans, more and more providers are asking patients to either pay a part of the cost upfront, or for a credit/debit card to be put on file. Note: this…

Learn the basics about Pricing


Dental and Vision