{"id":13983,"date":"2017-11-29T19:27:42","date_gmt":"2017-11-29T19:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2017\/11\/29\/7-ways-you-can-protect-yourself-from-outrageous-medical-bills\/"},"modified":"2017-11-29T19:27:42","modified_gmt":"2017-11-29T19:27:42","slug":"7-ways-you-can-protect-yourself-from-outrageous-medical-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/7-ways-you-can-protect-yourself-from-outrageous-medical-bills\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways You Can Protect Yourself From Outrageous Medical Bills"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Marshall Allen<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

\"Make<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n
Enlarge this image<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Eva Bee\/Ikon Images\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

A doctor offers a surgical add-on that leads to a $1,877 bill for a young girl’s ear piercing. A patient protests unnecessary scans to identify and treat her breast cysts. A study shows intensive care-level treatment is overused.<\/p>\n

ProPublica has been documenting the myriad ways the health system wastes money<\/a> on unnecessary services, often shifting the costs to consumers. But there are ways patients can protect themselves.<\/p>\n

We consulted the bill-wrangling professionals at Medliminal<\/a>, one of a number of companies that negotiate to reduce charges for a share of the savings. After years of jousting with hospitals, medical providers and insurers, their key advice for patients and their families is to be assertive and proactive.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Here are seven steps patients can take to protect themselves:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Make sure the proposed test or treatment is necessary. Ask what might happen if you don’t get the service right away.<\/li>\n
  2. Ask the price before <\/em>the test or treatment. (Prices may not be negotiable if they’re set by an insurance company contract.)<\/li>\n
  3. Write on your financial agreement that you agree to pay for all treatment by providers who are in-network, which means they have set rates with your insurance company. (The medical providers may not accept the altered form.)<\/li>\n
  4. If possible, get the billing codes the medical provider will use to charge you and contact your insurance provider to make sure that each code is covered.<\/li>\n
  5. If you are having a procedure, try to get the National Provider Identifier and\/or Tax ID number of the surgeons, anesthesiologists and their assistants. Contact your insurance company to see whether the providers are in-network, which results in the negotiated rates.<\/li>\n
  6. Demand an itemized bill and then look at each specific charge. Medical bills are often riddled with errors.<\/li>\n
  7. Ask whether the provider has a financial assistance policy, which could result in a sliding scale discount. Many people qualify, and discounts can range from 20 percent to 70 percent.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n