Summary of an article - Essay Example

Summary of the article “Bargaining Down the Medical Bills” 2009 The of the article argues that medical bills can quite easily be negotiated and are possible to bring down when the patients are short of money – and shows to the readers several ways to do so. All of these ways are absolutely legal and, which is also extremely important, stick to the “win-win” strategy as they make both patient and his doctors happy. How can this be possible? Let us take a look at what the author of the article has to propose.

During the present times of economic turmoil, one of the burning issues in the USA – and worldwide, for that matter – has become the problem of people losing or bringing down their health insurances because of lack of jobs. Therefore it is no more a rare occasion for the hospitals to encounter the patients whose money is tight. In facts, according to the survey conducted by the American Hospital Association as early as in November 2008, 50 per cent of their members are facing the considerable increase of the number of patients who are willing to save money and switch onto cheaper health insurance schemes.

Certainly the situation must be aggravated even more now that the national unemployment rate has increased 8 per cent. However, doctors – and this is a no surprise – have humane feelings, and are willing to help their patients in need. During this turbulent times, they are concerned not only about the state of their patients’ bodies and minds but also about the wellbeing of their purse or banking account. Some doctors, like, for example, Dr. Moritz whose advice to the patients has been quoted in the article, ask their long-term patients whether they are still employed first thing during the appointment.

If the answer is no, then doctors assure them that their medical bills can be negotiated. How? First thing to remember is – doctors and hospitals are used to negotiating, as they have to do it themselves with the insuring companies. The cost of every single medical procedure may differ depending on which insurer the hospital does it for. Therefore, a patient’s wanting a discount will hardly get hospital’s accounting department shocked. What are the pieces of advice to those struggling to reduce their medical bills?

When talking to doctors, take into account the following: speak up if you need help – as doctors will always help on this occasion. It is better to say blatantly about your financial difficulties, and you are most likely to get a good price break. As there is a very widespread problem with unpaid bills that causes hospitals to lose thousands of dollars annually, your offer to pay them cash upfront will make them happy, and you can therefore get a discount. Only use respectful ways of negotiating, and never try to haggle over small sums of money as you are dealing with the fragile and very important subject – your health.

When dealing with hospitals, the advice is to ask from their billing department for the possibility to pay the lowest rate they give an insurance company. Sometimes a counter offer will prove a success – as it is much better for a hospital to be paid at least something rather than nothing. It is useful to search for the healthcare programs that will be cheaper for you than private insurers, such as Medicare – this can be done on certain websites with the option of finding and comparing hospitals.

It is even possible to bargain with labs, which sometimes offer interest-free payment plans and even financial assistance to patients whose money is tight. Each patient’s case is individual, and doctors and hospitals understand it very well – that is why it is always possible to cut down your medical bills while getting good medical care.