You must be the advocate for your own health. As great as doctors are, they see dozens of patients a day, or hundreds a month. You must know what is going into and happening with…
You have the right to say no and select more affordable diagnostic and treatment options, even against your doctor’s wishes, after considering the risk and benefits of each procedure. Exceptions include certain emergencies, and if…
When you have an emergency, you have many more options than simply going to the emergency room. You should be aware of all the levels of options available, because the emergency room is one of…
When you’re not feeling well, the last thing you think about is stopping and taking time to document how you’re feeling. You’re just not feeling well! But for providers to give their most accurate diagnosis,…
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…
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…
Health care prices in the United States vary widely, even the negotiated (or contracted) rate between an insurance company and a healthcare provider. Always get multiple estimates for non-emergent care. This applies even for those…
Many specialist offices are owned by a large hospital network. This allows them to classify the office as an outpatient center, as opposed to an independent facility, and charge what’s called a facility fee. That…
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…
When we move to a new city, many of us simply forget or don’t have the time to find another primary care doctor. Here’s the biggest reason why that’s a mistake: you can get seen…
Dentists in many states can effectively ask you to pay the full un-discounted billed rate, rather than the negotiated rate, after you have reached your calendar-year maximum, even if the dentist is in-network. Let’s say…
Hospital discharges often take a long time, and may even extend your hospital stay to another day. Often you’re ready to go, but something is hung up. The best analogy is the similar problem around…
Below is the definition of deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums: Not all items are equal in being included in your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum: What counts towards your deductible What does not count to your deductible…
There are a few categories of medical errors common to hospitals and doctor’s offices. Here are the top three to watch out for and how to prevent them: Medication related errors Medications are becoming more…
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…
After you leave your job, by law you have 60 days to elect COBRA health insurance continuation coverage. COBRA insurance is usually much more expensive than your monthly premiums because you are also paying your…
Short-term health insurance plans may be an option for certain people. The prices are often a fraction of full insurance plans. These have not been very popular because low-income patients often quality for charity care…
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…
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…
The way many insurance companies reimburse hospitals for maternity services may be different than routine doctor’s visits. Instead of the hospital billing the insurance company for every procedure and visit, they agree with the insurance…
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…
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…
Most insurances have a yearly out-of-pocket maximum. That means in any given year, the maximum you will pay for all covered medical costs is a number ranging from $500 to $15,000 (for high deductible plans)….
Other resources provide good, basic questions to ask before your surgery, such as risk vs benefit, what to expect before, during, and after the surgery, etc. But many of us do not ask: how often…
Finding a new doctor in your area can be overwhelming. There can be dozens of primary care physicians in your immediate urban area, and a handful of specialists for your specific condition. Finding the right…
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…
The US health insurance is complicated because you often have a separate medical, dental, and vision plan. And each of your three insurances are usually from three different insurance companies! They each cover different medical…