How to lower your medical bills without sacrificing care

Walk into any decent healthcare facility for a consult and you will likely spend a tidy sum. The burden of cost isn’t just worse off for cash payers; those insured also endure the pain. It can get overwhelming; no wonder medical fundraisers are all too common. Why is it all too expensive? Can you do anything to keep your medical bills in check? You certainly can, whilst ensuring you aren’t compromising on the quality of your care.

Paying cash for your medical expenses is well and good, but only in the short term. Having medical insurance is a better strategy. There are many insurers to choose from, and you have to sieve out intransigent providers from the more flexible ones. Check if you can be offered discounted rates if in optimal health. Don’t agree to be lumped together with everyone else paying a general premium, you will simply be paying more and subsidising the unhealthy folk. Don’t ignore the publicly funded medical insurance; it’s been a lifesaver for some.

Shop around for the most cost-effective healthcare provider you can get. Why pay thousands when you could get away with paying less? Costs for consults, diagnostic tests and interventional procedures will vary considerably in different facilities. Find out where costs are more balanced. Paying more arbitrarily is a waste of money. The only other thing to watch out for is quality.

Unnecessary interventions

Be wary of unending medical interventions. It’s long been accepted that healthcare is bloated with recommendations for unnecessary tests, procedures, prescriptions and god knows what else. Why would anybody want to get unnecessary medical interventions and pay for it for good measure? Save your money by asking questions and being very vigilant. Many clinical decisions can be made without a barrage of tests. An equal number of patients admitted in hospitals can easily be managed as outpatients or discharged within very short periods. All this saves money.

Avoiding healthcare is a no-brainer in terms of medical bills. If you never ever get sick, it guarantees you zero medical bills. But that’s utopian. The closest you can get is to maintain your health as well as possible. Watch your lifestyle, eat well, avoid toxins, and stay physically fit. Get screened for chronic conditions. Stay up to date with disease prevention recommendations, including applicable vaccines. You are likely to be healthier if you stay proactive, reaping ample dividends with lower medical bills in the long run.

Dr Murage is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist