Comments on: 10 Ways to Reduce Your Medical Costs with Personal Bills Tracking http://www.mint.com/blog/uncategorized/personal-bills-tracking-10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/ The blog of the free, simple personal finance solution. Track all your spending automatically, find the best deals, save more money. And save the world. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:46:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Justin Dux http://www.mint.com/blog/uncategorized/personal-bills-tracking-10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/comment-page-1/#comment-29963 Justin Dux Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:02:25 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/moneyhack/10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/#comment-29963 Part of avoiding unnecessary tests is to go over your statements carefully after a visit. In the past 3 years, my wife and I have saved over $400 by disputing mistakes AFTER we get the bill. It is very easy for doctors to order tests that they do not know the cost for. When you get the bill for a blood test that screened your DNA for $600 it may be worth arguing that you never authorized such a test for a "routine exam". Without getting into the details of our specific examples there a couple keys to understand. Medical coding reveals very little about the procedure your paying for. I usually had to request further documentation and explanation from the billing department, who then had to confirm with the doctor, who then had to recode the procedure correctly. For example, If you see a bill for code LABxyz $345.00 what does that say your paying for? request more info until you understand what it's for. It is important to dispute the debt before it comes due. Unfortunately you will not have necessary answers in time for a due date because of the delay in recieving additional info, but dispute anyway. According to my Business Law texbook it is very difficult to pay less than the amount due for a debt after the due date is past. (see liquidated debt vs non-liquidated debt). Though it is difficult to get a person on the phone that is authorized to reduce the amount owed, you at least would have the right to offer a lesser amount if you previously disputed it. Part of avoiding unnecessary tests is to go over your statements carefully after a visit. In the past 3 years, my wife and I have saved over $400 by disputing mistakes AFTER we get the bill. It is very easy for doctors to order tests that they do not know the cost for. When you get the bill for a blood test that screened your DNA for $600 it may be worth arguing that you never authorized such a test for a “routine exam”. Without getting into the details of our specific examples there a couple keys to understand.

Medical coding reveals very little about the procedure your paying for. I usually had to request further documentation and explanation from the billing department, who then had to confirm with the doctor, who then had to recode the procedure correctly. For example, If you see a bill for code LABxyz $345.00 what does that say your paying for? request more info until you understand what it’s for.

It is important to dispute the debt before it comes due. Unfortunately you will not have necessary answers in time for a due date because of the delay in recieving additional info, but dispute anyway. According to my Business Law texbook it is very difficult to pay less than the amount due for a debt after the due date is past. (see liquidated debt vs non-liquidated debt). Though it is difficult to get a person on the phone that is authorized to reduce the amount owed, you at least would have the right to offer a lesser amount if you previously disputed it.

]]> By: RedStick Guy http://www.mint.com/blog/uncategorized/personal-bills-tracking-10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/comment-page-1/#comment-28559 RedStick Guy Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:46:24 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/moneyhack/10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/#comment-28559 Medical Tourism: Thats the answer. I am originally from India. I had sticker shock when I saw the estimate given by a dentist for my crowded teeth that were cavity prone (no matter how much I brushed/flossed). So I went to India (to marry my dear American wife) and got all my dental work done by a top dentist and paid a ungodly price of $480. Compare that to $5700 here in the U.S!... My air ticket = $1500, food = $200, boarding = $500. Total = $2680. Moreover, there are insurance companies out there today that will work with you and with reputable hospitals/chains in India and pay for 80% of the charges. It does work out cheaper! Medical Tourism: Thats the answer. I am originally from India. I had sticker shock when I saw the estimate given by a dentist for my crowded teeth that were cavity prone (no matter how much I brushed/flossed). So I went to India (to marry my dear American wife) and got all my dental work done by a top dentist and paid a ungodly price of $480. Compare that to $5700 here in the U.S!… My air ticket = $1500, food = $200, boarding = $500. Total = $2680.
Moreover, there are insurance companies out there today that will work with you and with reputable hospitals/chains in India and pay for 80% of the charges. It does work out cheaper! ]]> By: thehungrydollar.com http://www.mint.com/blog/uncategorized/personal-bills-tracking-10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/comment-page-1/#comment-18357 thehungrydollar.com Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:28:19 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/moneyhack/10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/#comment-18357 Great advice! I especially like the part about generic drugs. Stocking your medicine cabinet with generic instead of brand name will save you more money than you might think. The active ingredients are usually close to the same, if not exactly the same, and the price difference can be as much as $2.oo. The reason they can do this is because they don't have the huge advertising budgets of their counterparts. I just wrote an article about this on my site The Hungry Dollar. Great advice! I especially like the part about generic drugs. Stocking your medicine cabinet with generic instead of brand name will save you more money than you might think. The active ingredients are usually close to the same, if not exactly the same, and the price difference can be as much as $2.oo. The reason they can do this is because they don’t have the huge advertising budgets of their counterparts. I just wrote an article about this on my site The Hungry Dollar. ]]> By: Tyler http://www.mint.com/blog/uncategorized/personal-bills-tracking-10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/comment-page-1/#comment-18121 Tyler Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:09:41 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/moneyhack/10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/#comment-18121 Please be very cautious when ordering tests and labs from third parties. Medical professionals are trained to know what to look for and what samples are needed when they suspect disease; if you are concerned that you may have an illness, please consider seeing a health care professional rather than trying to self-diagnose by outsourcing lab work. Please be very cautious when ordering tests and labs from third parties. Medical professionals are trained to know what to look for and what samples are needed when they suspect disease; if you are concerned that you may have an illness, please consider seeing a health care professional rather than trying to self-diagnose by outsourcing lab work. ]]> By: Angela http://www.mint.com/blog/uncategorized/personal-bills-tracking-10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/comment-page-1/#comment-18080 Angela Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:40:48 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/moneyhack/10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/#comment-18080 Kelly: I am so glad you were able to get the tests you needed at a cheaper price! It really is difficult when you don't have health insurance. Good luck. Kelly: I am so glad you were able to get the tests you needed at a cheaper price! It really is difficult when you don’t have health insurance. Good luck. ]]> By: Kelly http://www.mint.com/blog/uncategorized/personal-bills-tracking-10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/comment-page-1/#comment-18077 Kelly Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:09:54 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/moneyhack/10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/#comment-18077 I have no health insurance, and desperatly needed some blood tests. I saw the links that you had under "outsource common tests" and checked out their websites. I chose the last one private lab testing. All my tests were WAY less then going through a hospital or doctor. It was really easy. I spoke with a nurse, went to the lab, and got my results all in 24 hours! I will never go anywhere else again! This new service is awesome!! I have no health insurance, and desperatly needed some blood tests. I saw the links that you had under “outsource common tests” and checked out their websites. I chose the last one private lab testing. All my tests were WAY less then going through a hospital or doctor. It was really easy. I spoke with a nurse, went to the lab, and got my results all in 24 hours! I will never go anywhere else again! This new service is awesome!! ]]> By: Donna Wells http://www.mint.com/blog/uncategorized/personal-bills-tracking-10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/comment-page-1/#comment-17157 Donna Wells Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:11:22 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/moneyhack/10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/#comment-17157 We considered adding Medical Tourism to this list, but were concerned about the risks vs. the potential savings. Anyone have a strong point of view or experience with this practice (e.g. traveling to India for lower cost surgery)? We considered adding Medical Tourism to this list, but were concerned about the risks vs. the potential savings. Anyone have a strong point of view or experience with this practice (e.g. traveling to India for lower cost surgery)? ]]> By: Paul http://www.mint.com/blog/uncategorized/personal-bills-tracking-10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/comment-page-1/#comment-17147 Paul Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:44:39 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/moneyhack/10-ways-to-reduce-your-medical-costs-now/#comment-17147 "exercise more, eliminate stress, stop smoking, get plenty of sleep, get regular check-ups, drink 8 glasses of water per day, avoid red meat, and eat lots of organic fruits, vegetables and fish." Enough cannot be said about the importance of your common sense suggestions at the end of this great post. “exercise more, eliminate stress, stop smoking, get plenty of sleep, get regular check-ups, drink 8 glasses of water per day, avoid red meat, and eat lots of organic fruits, vegetables and fish.”

Enough cannot be said about the importance of your common sense suggestions at the end of this great post.

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