As a cancer patient, do you have some tips to reduce my health care costs?

Potentially unnecessary tests, extra visits to the physician's office, multiple visits by the home health nurse, and unnecessary equipment.

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member9844 (Friend) - 07 / 26 / 2011

Knowledge is Power!!! So, to the extent you can learn about treatment modalities, drugs, etc. that have a cost to you, the easier it will be to communicate with your providers about the "real need" for costly services. I always recommend engaging in a dialogue with your providers. It would also be helpful to find out from your managed care org. the services that they do and do not pay for related to your breast cancer treatment. Research, research, research! All the Best,

MartineEhrenclou (Friend) - 07 / 27 / 2011

If you are to be in a hospital or surgery center and you will not be using your insurance, you can negotiate with them. You can start by offering 60% of their fee and then settle on a 70% of their fee. You can also negotiate fees with your medical professionals. Many doctors will reduce their fees by 20% if you pay within the first 30 days and may discount their services more if you describe your plight. This info comes straight from docs, nurses, medical professionals, patients and more who I interviewed, and is in my new book, the Take-Charge Patient: How You Can Get The Best Medical Care(out 3/2012). Not trying to push my book but mention it so you know it is credible info.
Here are a couple of websites who help patients find affordable health insurance and free health care.
Patient Advocate Foundationhttp://www.patientadvocate.org/help4u.php
Coverage For All
http://www.coverageforall.org/
Foundation For Health Coverage Education
http://www.coverageforall.org/
Good luck! Martine
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