The Rising Cost Of Medicine: Is Your Doctor On Your Side?

With the rising cost of health care, many people cannot afford the medicines they need. Many people are even being forced to choose between their medications and food. Whether you have insurance or not, it may all come down to, whether your doctor is truly on your side.

Anyone who has to choose between their medication and food would really be happy if their doctor gave them some free samples, right? If you’re on Medicare or have an HMO, you might think free samples are a wonderful savings to you. But these samples aren’t ‘free’, in the long run.
Drug representatives leave samples of the latest and most expensive drugs with doctors as part of promotional campaigns. They know that when the sample runs out, the doctor, almost never switches you to a less expensive drug. Then you end up spending a lot more than you need to. If you were offered a ‘generic’ instead, you might even sidestep potential side effects from that newer drug. But most people are overjoyed to receive these samples and happily thank their doctors.
Some people have caught on to a potential savings on medications, by asking their doctors to prescribe a double dose instead. This can be done with some medications. Then the pill can be cut in half, usually at a lower cost than the half strength. Of course, that might mean you would only need to see you doctor half as much. So your doctor will need to decide, if this action is appropriate.


Have you ever gone to the doctor and wondered, why you have to come back two or three times to complete your check up? It’s because, insurance companies won’t reimburse doctors for multiple treatments within one separate visit. If your doctor were examining your broken leg, you would need to come back another day, to have your blood pressure checked.


Some doctors do ‘eat’ the cost of additional services. Others refuse and are resentful of the increasing influence; insurance companies have on how they practice medicine. President Obama’s former personal physician, Dr David Scheiner, has said that private insurers continue to “Interfere” with his medical decisions.
“Doctors are fed up with the administrative hassles and other obstacles to get reimbursed”, said Dr. Ted Epperly, a family physician in Boise, Idaho. While doctors may be fed up, insurance companies are under new pressures to cut their costs. And it seems it’s the patients, who are in the middle. There are however, some things you can do to lower your medical costs.


Debra Snell, who has Crohn’s disease, was unable to purchase insurance. She has learned how to negotiate and shop around for the care she needs. She pays her gastroenterologist, Dr. Narayanachar Murall, $35 for an office visit compared with $150 for a typical patient. It costs Debra only $400 to have a colonoscopy of her lower intestines, compared to $750 or $1500 at the hospital. Why is her doctor doing it? Debra pays promptly, and fills out all her paperwork in advance.
This may not work with all doctors, but shop around, especially if you’re planning an elective health procedure. Here are some tips to help you negotiate your costs.
*Once you’ve gotten medical services, ask for a complete, itemized bill and check for mistakes.

*Beware of double billing. Many times hospitals bill for the room and then bill for things like sheets or toothbrushes that you were already charged for.

*If you have had surgery, check charges for kits or trays. Be sure you were not charged again for the same instruments. You can usually get a 35% discount from inflated price lists by challenging individual items.

*Negotiate with the proper person.
There are also companies that will handle negotiations for you, for a percentage of your savings. These companies don’t require a retainer and you may be able to negotiate their fee as well.

*Myinsnet.com
*Billadvocates.com
*Medical Cost Advocate/Wyckoff, NJ


Usually doctors don’t like you to negotiate their fees. But if you find a doctor who is concerned with you as a patient, he or she will be considerate of your costs as well as your care.


Sources:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/21/health-medical-bills-lifestyle-health-doctor-bills-debt.html

http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/24/news/economy/healthcare_insurer_doctor/index.htm?postversion=2009092508insurers
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/submitted/morreim/prescribing.html



by Renee Rotto