Better Care At Lower Costs

Overview

Should you talk about cost with your doctor?

A doctor's main focus is to help you get better, not to save you money. But if you speak up, your doctor may be able to help with both.

Don't expect your doctor to know the exact cost of a drug or test or treatment. There are so many things that determine the cost of care. These include your health plan's arrangement with your doctor, how your plan bills for care, where you get the care, and others. But your doctor can give you an idea of how the cost of one choice compares to another.

How can you lower health care costs by taking charge of your health?

Here are some things you can do to take charge of your health and lower your health care costs.

• Protect your health with a healthy lifestyle.
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
  • Get active.
  • Get immunized.
  • Don't smoke.
  • Make safety a priority.
  • Manage stress.
• Tell your doctor that you care about how much your treatment, medicines, or medical tests cost. Your doctor may be able to help you find ways to get great care at lower costs.
• Get health care when you need it. Ignoring problems can lead to expensive complications.
• If you have health insurance, find out if your plan will pay more for your health care costs when you go to their preferred list of providers.
• Review your health care bills. Ask questions about what you don't understand.
• If your employer offers a wellness program, you may be able to lower your insurance costs and at the same time do things that are good for your health.