This tip is from Reader Jen! She advises calling around to different facilities before having a medical procedure done to compare costs. She learned this when her daughter needed tubes in her ears. To have it done at the hospital would’ve cost $5600. At the outpatient surgery center (next to the hospital, no less!) it was less than $3000! That’s a BIG difference! And the same doctor would perform the procedure no matter what facility she chose!
Thanks Jen!
Have you ever saved big on medical costs? How did you do it?
Be sure to catch up on all the previous Let’s Save Some Money posts.
Yvette says
Paying cash gives you the power to negotiate the price. You have the right to ask to be charged the same price amount as someone receiving Medi-caid,( they just won’t tell you that) for the same procedure done. Hope this helps!
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
Very true!
Keila Oliver says
I save a lot of money by using my Flexible Spending Account option at work. I decide how much I will probably be spending for the upcoming year, and ask that the amount be deducted from my paycheck biweekly. I get a Flex Account credit card which comes loaded with all the money for that year on January first. The money is deducted from my paycheck PRE TAX, which is awesome. If I chose to pay my copay out of pocket, I just fax in the receipt, and get my money reimbursed within a few days. I highly recommend this to everyone.
B says
Very true, when it comes to something as important as this, it’s not always best to save money. Adverse reactions can and do occur and some facilities are better equipped to handle these than others. I would never only go with the cheaper facility just to save money. When my life or the lives of my family is potentially at stake, I won’t cut corners.
VB says
When ppl are considering their options they may want to keep in mind the type of procedure and how the facility can handle a n emergency situtation should it arise. I work in a hospital and occasionally codes (such as rapid response for patient who are still conscious or code blues) are called during and even after a procedure. It doesnt happen often but it does happen. People react differently to anesthesia and meds so for some people the comfort of knowing there is an emergency team, OR’s , equipment, cardiologist and respiratory therapist on staff in the hospital may be worth the cost