Medical Bills: Six Of The Best Ways To Help Reduce The Expenses
Medical bills are not just daunting, many times they are absolutely staggering. Whether it is a single emergency room visit or ongoing medication, these expenses are the common reason for filing bankruptcy. While not every single expense, there are some basic tips that can be utilized to cut some or all of the costs in certain scenarios.
Pick Facilities Carefully
An emergency room visit is typically going to cost a minimum of a few hundred dollars, but most patients are going to be paying thousands if they receive any serious treatments. Facilities such as an urgent care, on the other hand, often provide the same services for as little as $100 with the patient agreeing to pay for each additional treatment such as shots. If you aren’t in serious condition, go to your regular doctor during office hours or find an urgent care.
Ask For Available Discounts
While this may sound like a silly way to save money on medical bills, every medical center has its own policies on discounts. Some may remove a lump sum on the spot while others could potentially offer better payment plans or free services alongside the treatments. Be sure to ask their base rates, as some medical offices will charge much more for the same service that another place offers for less.
Switch to Generic Prescriptions
This is one of the easiest ways to save on medical bills and could save tens of thousands over the years. Generic drugs cost anywhere from 30 to 60 percent less than name brands with identical ingredients and results. While there may be a few exceptions, they should work exactly the same, and cost you much less.
Speak With a Personal Injury Attorney
For those that have recently been injured due to the negligence or direct actions of another party, they may not need to pay some or all of your medical bills. According to professionals at Dietrich Law, an experienced personal injury attorney will be able to guide victims through the process of seeking out financial assistance from the party at fault.
Inquire About Free Incentives
Healthcare providers save money when their clients are healthy, and this means that many are willing to offer discounts and incentives. Some of the most common incentives that are requested by insurers include stopping smoking, joining a gym and maintaining a certain weight.
Ask Employers about Discounts
Employers also save money when their employees are healthy, and this means that wellness programs are very common in the corporate world. Along with gym memberships and discounts for staying fit, they may also provide free programs for coping with issues such as lower back pain, migraines, cancer and asthma.
Everyone is going to want to trim their medical bills at some point, but the prospect of cutting these costs often seems impossible. By breaking down each expense and then searching for discounts and incentives, thousands of dollars could be saved over the years.
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Category: Medical
