Saving at the Doctor's Office

For new parents, after the shock of diaper and formula prices the next big sticker shock is children's healthcare. Babies and children get sick a lot more than adults. Doctors' visits and prescription costs can add up quickly. I can't offer any health advice for keeping kids from getting sick, but I can offer some suggestions for keeping healthcare costs lower.

1. Read your health insurance policy backwards and forwards. I know this stuff is boring, but knowing what and how much your insurance covers is key. You don't want any surprises at the doctor's office or in your claim notice.
2. Familiarize yourself with state regulations. Each state has different mandates for insurance companies especially relating to infant and children's healthcare. For example, all insurance companies in Georgia must cover well-baby care including vaccinations and this coverage has to kick in before the deductible.
3. Investigate state children's health programs. If you don't have health insurance from a private company, look to see if your state offers children's insurance. There are certain income and age qualifications. In Georgia there is the PeachCare program.

Now that we have gotten the insurance matters out of the way, here are tips for cutting your costs.

1. Ask for a cash discount. If you have to pay for care that is not covered by insurance, or you have a high deductible, be upfront with the doctor and ask for a cash discount if you pay the balance today.
2. Ask for payment options. If you can't afford to pay the entire balance at one time, ask the doctor to work out a payment plan.
3. Remind the doctor of your status each time. Doctors spend their time seeing patients and like to leave billing and insurance matters to their staff. Therefore it is not top of mind to them. If you have special financial circumstances or varied health insurance coverages remind them, so they pay special attention to what tests, prescriptions or care they recommend. Some tests done in the office are billed at a higher rate than those sent out, or a generic drug might work just as well as a brand name.
4. Last but not least don't forget about county health centers. County health centers offer doctor's visits and services at a great discount. While you might not want to exclusively visit a county health center all the time, you might want to utilize their discounted test and vaccination services.