A DIY Guide to Achieving True & Accurate Charges and Fair & Reasonable Prices (Part 2)
In our last segment of Pat’s Tips, we touched on a very important aspect of taking charge of your medical bills – being proactive. There are numerous methods of being proactive with saving money on your medical bills.
Some of these methods include trying to negotiate a price for a service beforehand, comparing prices for the same service with different area providers, and taking notes during a hospital stay. Taking notes might not seem like the ideal method of saving money on healthcare at first, but if you can do so, you will likely find some overcharges on your medical bill all by yourself.
First, you will need to log everything from your stay as it happens. Don’t put it off and depend on your memory, because you will likely forget important details. Write down what you received, whether it’s a supply, procedure or service, as it happens, if at all possible.
If you are not in the position to note these things during your stay, designate a friend or family member who is with you during your stay. For example, if your spouse, sibling, son or daughter stays with you for the majority of the time during your hospital stay, instruct them to write down the date and time of the administration of every pill, injection, supply, test or procedure – even down to dressing changes. Any physical item that is handed to you should be documented. This will be vital in the event that you are over-charged on your hospital bill, which happens 80% of the time.
Keep in mind that you may not be able to instruct others to notate these items in the event that you are unconscious. Additionally, if you are under the influence of heavy medication and heavily sedated, you might fail to communicate this wish to any visitors.
To be proactive and plan ahead of time, explain to a close friend or family member that you would like them to take notes in the hospital if you are ever in any of these situations. Have them jot down the specifics of anything that is done whenever a facility employee comes into your room – even if it’s just to give you an extra pillow or blanket. Additionally, when facility staff sees how serious you are about only being charged for services that you received, they will be much more careful about charting your stay as well.
Certainly, if you know about a scheduled procedure ahead of time, you could more easily plan this beforehand.
It is important to note that although you are keeping track of supplies you are given, that doesn’t mean that you should be charged for them. Most of the general public does not know that certain items and supplies cannot be charged for individually; instead, most of these items are supposed to be included in the cost of the room or are bundled into the charge for certain tests and procedures. But fear not – if you ever have any questions about what you can or cannot be charged for, just give us a call at (855) 203-7058. We are here to help!
