10 Tips for Controlling Your Healthcare Costs

Consumers are spending more “out-of-pocket” on their health care than ever before.  Trends such as high-deductibles, co-insurance, and sharing in the premium cost of your employer-provided health plan all are causing consumers to be more careful and responsible for their health care.

Barbara O’Connell, chief operating officer of the free health care information Website, WhereToFindCare.com, offers these tips for controlling the cost of your health care:

1.      Question everything. Ask why those tests, screenings and medications your doctor orders are necessary and whether lower-cost alternatives are appropriate.  Then, check with your health plan to make sure they will cover it.  Sometimes a standard X-ray is just as effective as an MRI or CT scan, and some health plans require additional information from the doctor before they will cover a more expensive version of a diagnostic test. 

2.      Get or keep your primary care doctor, and get that annual physical.  It’s the best way to stay on top of your health and prevent health issues from becoming larger problems. If you have a chronic condition, such as asthma or high blood pressure, regular check-ups with your doctor can keep things under control.

3.      It’s OK to discuss and compare costs. If you are having trouble affording your co-pays or co-insurance, don’t be afraid to talk with your providers about payment arrangements.  Often, they will work out a monthly payment schedule with you.  You may also consider comparing doctor costs or using a free clinic.  You can locate physicians and free clinics near you at WhereToFindCare.com.

4.     Know your options for finding care. If you’re like many Americans are having trouble affording health care, you should know that you still have options.  In addition to free clinics, federally qualified health centers are available to help you by providing a sliding scale according to your ability to pay.  For assistance with hospital care services, contact a financial advisor and request an application for charity care consideration. Guidelines do vary from hospital to hospital, with eligibility ranging from full to partial payment.

5.      If you need to see a doctor after office hours, use an urgent care or walk-in clinic instead of the emergency room. Studies have shown that 40-60% of all ER visits are non-urgent.  As long as your condition is not life-threatening, urgent care centers are a less expensive and faster alternative.  Find one near you at WhereToFindCare.com.

6.      Take your medications. Your doctor has prescribed medication to treat, monitor or control a health condition.  When taken properly, you will most likely keep your condition under control.

If you can’t afford your medications, many drug companies, free clinics, pharmacies and community organizations have programs to pay for or subsidize costs for people in need.  Also, your doctor may know of programs that can help you.

7.      If you have insurance, understand it thoroughly. Know your coverage and deductibles and understand its limits, such as use of generics, preventive care benefits and healthy lifestyle incentives.   Stay within your policy limits and maximize the coverage you do have.

8.      Take advantage of Health Savings Accounts, or flexible spending accounts.  If you have ongoing medical expenses, these accounts can save you money by allowing you to spend pre-tax dollars on qualified health expenses.

9.      If you receive a claim rejection, contact your insurance company first prior to making payment.  It may be something correctable such as a submitting a medical record to support a billing code before approval.  Ask the billing office also for help, they have experience with health insurers and may offer insight to expedite the payment process.

10.   Maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent or control diseases. That means eat well, exercise and get enough sleep.  This benefits your health and your wallet.

“Staying healthy and staying educated on your health options are the best ways to manage costs.” says Barbara O’Connell, chief operating officer of WhereToFindCare.com.  “And, share your opinion.  This makes the health care industry more accountable.”  When users of WhereToFindCare.com share their experiences with health providers, that information is added into a customized rating system offering consumers a united voice in the health care industry.

WhereToFindCare.com is a Michigan company created and managed by two health care experts, Barbara O’Connell and Dawn Hall.  The site is free to use and to contribute and share your health care experiences.  For more information, go to www.wheretofindcare.com.

Rate Your Health Care Experience on WhereToFindCare.com

Ypsilanti, MI – Consumers now have a free, convenient way to gain control over their health care options.  Through the use of the national Web site, WhereToFindCare.com, consumers who share their health care experiences will contribute to quality ratings of hospitals, doctors, nursing homes, diagnostic centers and other health care providers.

The Web site clears the confusion over health care by offering easy-to-understand tips for evaluating health care facilities and providers.  For example, what’s the difference between a skilled care facility and a nursing home?  How do you know what level of care your elderly loved-one needs?  How do you know a doctor or health facility provides high quality service? WhereToFindCare.com provides the answers to these and many other health care questions.

“We offer consumers a simple way to find and compare the best health options for them, in a way that everyone can understand,” says Barbara O’Connell, chief operating officer of WhereToFindCare.com. “To make the site more robust and user-friendly, we ask users to share their experiences. We add that detail into our customized rating system, so we incorporate the voice of the consumer.”

Currently, WhereToFindCare.com has information on close to 100,000 hospitals, doctors and health care facilities nationwide.  The owners are continually adding to the site, including a new tool that will help patients and their families find the best match when care at home is needed after being discharged from the hospital.

Visitors to the website also have the option to nominate outstanding health professionals as “Care Stars,” for added recognition. WhereToFindCare.com is a Michigan company created and managed by two health care experts, Barbara O’Connell and Dawn Hall.  The site is free to use and to contribute and share your health care experiences.  For more information, go to www.wheretofindcare.com.