How to Save Money When Paying for Surgery

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Many people are now avoiding procedures and treatments because they are worried about overwhelming medical bills, and that can result in some major health problems down the road. While you might not be able to get your entire medical bill covered, there are a few steps that you can take to protect your finances. It is vitally important to not put off surgery and healthcare, as the longer you wait to take care of health issues, the more extreme and expensive they becomes. Here are some ways you can save money when paying for surgery.

Shop Around

If you know that you are going to have a procedure carried out in a few months, then you should have some time to shop around. Traveling to a different hospital could end up saving you huge sums of money and potentially provide you with a much better experience. As a general rule, not-for-profit hospitals tend to be much more affordable, but some for-profit hospitals will cut you a deal if you offer to pay in advance. Look around at your different options, and talk to your insurance company so you can be sure what they will and won’t cover.

Negotiate with the Hospital Directly

You might be surprised to hear that you can actually negotiate your medical bill with the hospital. The financial department is going to do everything in its power to ensure that it gets at least some money for the procedure, and they might cut you a great deal if you call them directly. Once you are on the phone with them, you can tell them that your finances are tight and see if they will give you a discount. Often, you will have to call the hospital directly and have them transfer you to their financial department. Be ready to be put on hold and transferred quite a bit.

Open a Health Savings Account (HSA)

Another step that you might want to take if you know that you are going to have upcoming procedures is to set up a health savings account. That type of account is designed specifically for treatments, prescriptions, checkups, and other medical expenditures. Many banks and insurers also offer amazing interest rates on their HSAs, and once you have put some money in that account, it will continue to grow until it is withdrawn. One benefit of HSAs is that you can often put pre-tax money in it directly from your paycheck, and if you use the money only on approved medical expenses, you will not have to pay taxes on it when its withdrawn.

Make Sure That Your Insurance Is Paying Their Share

It is an unfortunate fact that insurance companies decline claims every single day, and that leaves many people unsure of where they can turn for help. If your insurance company isn’t covering their fair share, then you must immediately contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options. Many attorneys focus on those exact types of cases, and your legal representative will be able to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. If your surgery is caused by someone else’s negligence, a personal injury attorney can also help you avoid having to use your own insurance at all.

Getting handed a staggering medical bill can turn your life upside down, but you don’t need to accept that expense without a fight. Planning ahead and negotiating with all of the parties that are involved could end up saving you quite a bit of money.

By Brooke Chaplan
who is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home and residing in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves outdoors activities and spends most of her time biking, hiking and gardening. She recommends school furniture suppliers that offer a full range assests.

Member since October, 2019
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