Providers

Negotiating fees are, at this stage, limited to your discussions with hospitals, and providers. Manged care firms negotiate with the buyers of the plans, which are the company or government sponsors of those plans. So, the providers or hospitals with from which you are receiving treatment may be amenable to negotiation depending upon your income and how high your deductibles and/or co-pays are. It's a delicate discussion of course, but you may be able to approach, say, the billing office. The concept of Consumer Directed Healthcare is not to make things easier or more economical for a member/patient: In reality it's just more verbiage used in shifting the costs of healthcare onto the wallets and purses of those members/patients. Negotiating fees are, at this stage, limited to your discussions with hospitals, and providers. Manged care firms negotiate with the buyers of the plans, which are the company or government sponsors of those plans. So, the providers or hospitals with from which you are receiving treatment may be amenable to negotiation depending upon your income and how high your deductibles and/or co-pays are. It's a delicate discussion of course, but you may be able to approach, say, the billing office. The concept of Consumer Directed Healthcare is not to make things easier or more economical for a member/patient: In reality it's just more verbiage used in shifting the costs of healthcare onto the wallets and purses of those members/patients.