| As we all hold our breath and await some miraculous | | | | for them, there are several large firms which, for a fee, |
| health care reform, (envisioning that time and common | | | | will thoroughly audit your financial records and save |
| sense will prevail), and that true reform emerges, in an | | | | you money (in some cases, a lot) for a good |
| ideal form making full coverage available for all, | | | | percentage of their clients. Just check the search |
| including all the disabled and veterans, with no worries | | | | engines for 'financial records auditors.' Call a few, then |
| concerning denial of service. If you need a $60,000 | | | | research the BBB, then use the same search engines |
| procedure which attempts to save or prolong your life, | | | | and type in the company name using the + sign with |
| then you shall have it. | | | | the word 'scam' added. The Internet is rife with con |
| Quite possibly a true pipe dream. | | | | artists, and disreputable companies. Be careful, please. |
| I hate to be pessimistic, but time and experience leads | | | | This just shows how much of a problem medical |
| to that path. Our adversarial political system, while | | | | records, and, say, hospital bills are: we have all heard |
| intended as a balanced effort toward a truth, has | | | | of the $6.00 aspirin or the $39.00 bandage. Suffice it to |
| evolved into a battleground driven by private capital | | | | say the faulty charges in the medical billing system |
| and greed. | | | | seem to be built in, they are so prevalent. It pays to be |
| What possible collective good can come from that | | | | diligent. |
| sort of behavior? | | | | The correct procedure to try and reduce your costs |
| Regardless of how the health care issue gets | | | | to various medical providers requires your willingness |
| resolved----my guess is that any reform will be difficult, | | | | to make an appointment with the front office manager, |
| given the obvious power the dollar has over the | | | | or billing department in order to explain your financial |
| decision making processes of many elected officials. | | | | hardship. Tell them how much you can afford, offer to |
| As long as that business arrangement is allowed to | | | | pay in cash, and offer to fill out all paperwork in |
| continue----you know, downright back-room, smoke | | | | advance. Be open to late appointments. Be honest and |
| filled images of deals benefiting the few, and punishing | | | | agreeable. Tell them you need them to work with you |
| the many. | | | | financially. Many times, the providers are more than |
| This needs to stop. No more lobbyists. | | | | happy to accommodate you, as long as you keep |
| In the meantime, there are methods you can use to | | | | your end of the agreement. However, do not make |
| reduce the cost of, say, your costs of visiting an | | | | the mistake and try and negotiate directly with the |
| orthopedist, or your dental expenses. You know, all | | | | doctor. |
| those items which never seem to be covered, and | | | | Physicians typically do not handle that end of their |
| which you need the most? | | | | business, and any attempt to bargain with them is |
| And because it is important to stay as healthy as you | | | | considered an insult-----instead, deal with the people |
| can, especially if you have a disability. | | | | who attend to the charges---the front office or the |
| So here's an overview of the idea. Think of it as a tool | | | | hospital billing department. |
| you can use to lessen the expenses you need pay | | | | As it is wise to prepare for a possible inflationary trend |
| out of pocket, involving pro-active bargaining | | | | given our economic condition, it is always good to |
| approaches to your provider, and auditing medical bills | | | | discover valuable ways to save your much needed |
| to check for over-billing or unwarranted charges. | | | | money. |
| And for those who would rather have the work done | | | | Best of luck to all. |