Negotiating With Doctors

By Author: Norris Rios
Total Articles: 568
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When you have a leaking faucet, you always ask the plumber for a price before you agree he should come. It's routine to haggle when you are dealing with a range of people who supply services. Every dollar you save in these tough economic times helps pay for the next meal. Indeed, as a consumer, you should always take the initiative to get quotes from several potential suppliers and then set one off against the other. Everyone needs work and flexibility on all sides keeps the suppliers in work and you with a few extra dollars in your bank account. So how come doctors have managed to pull this trick so we feel uncomfortable if we start haggling about the cost of treatment? Do you remember, last year, Sue Lowden, the Republican Senate candidate for Nevada, suggested the next time you go see your doctor, you take a chicken with you. She remembered a time when people would trade services for treatment. A country doctor could always find someone to rewire his home or paint the walls. No matter how you feel about trading livestock for treatment, the underlying message is sound.

If you don't protect yourself in these hard economic ...
... times, you can be dragged into bankruptcy by medical bills. Indeed, the national statistics show about 16% of all those seeking treatment can't afford to pay the billed price. So even though you may find the idea embarrassing, you should negotiate with doctors before agreeing treatment. You never know, you might find you can make big savings.

The best time to talk to doctors is when you're healthy. If you can walk away without endangering your own health or the health of your family, you're in a good position. Did you know doctors have an ethical duty to consider your financial situation? If you don't say anything, why should they care? So if you spend two minutes explaining your problems, you can set a framework for future treatment. Once the doctor knows you have problems, he or she can avoid the most expensive options and focus on the most urgent steps offering the best value for money. Once the need arises, get prices in writing before you start treatment.

If you are caught in an emergency and have no time to negotiate, you can be hit by a big bill you have no chance of paying. Although it may sound too late, you should sit down with the hospital and find out how the bill came to be so high. There are websites giving national price guidelines for the standard treatments. Look for any mistakes in the math and for costs that are significantly above the national guidelines. Never assume you can't change a bill after the fact. Even if the price remains unchanged, you can still negotiate terms for payment. The hospital does not want you to enter bankruptcy. That makes it difficult for them to get anything. So most will give you time to pay by installments. This approach also endears you to your health insurance providers. They like you to save them money. If you don't have a health insurance plan, protect your bank account in the same way you deal with plumbers who ask too much for that leaking faucet.