It happens when you least expect it. You get sick, break a bone or just feel like something isn't right with your body. We all fall under the weather at one point or another and need medical attention to help get us back on our feet. What happens when you don't have insurance? In 2007, approximately 46 million Americans did not have . Since 2005, this number has been on a steady increase. Whether your employer doesn't cover you or you're unemployed or self-employed, you're in need of healthcare. There are affordable options out there.
Uninsured Options
Many cities across the United States are now opening up immediate-care-type clinics that are open 24 hours. These are an alternative to a hospital emergency room, and they accept patients who have insurance as well as those who do not. Some of them see patients on a first come, first serve basis, and others base it on severity of illness. Typically the fees at these types of clinics are much lower than fees from an emergency room visit at a hospital. The co-pay alone for an ER visit can be as much as $100 (on top of other fees you incur). You're not likely to pay this at an immediate care facility. You'll have to fill out some paperwork when you walk in the door. They'll ask you if you have insurance, and if you don't, they'll go over your payment options. Often times you won't have to pay a penny at your visit. If you so choose, they will bill you later for whatever services you needed. From there, you can either pay the bill up front, charge the balance to your credit card or set up an alternate payment plan with the clinic that allows you to pay the balance in full over time. Keep in mind, if you're uninsured, many doctor's offices won't even agree to see you. An after-hours type of facility is basically where you'll need to go for treatment.
Insured Options
Having health coverage is helpful, but it doesn't always ensure that healthcare will be affordable. Many times you'll run up a bill so high that you'll wonder what the purpose of having health coverage is. Most health insurance companies only cover a portion of certain services, and even then, you often have to meet an annual amount (deductible) before the insurance company will pay anything out of its pocket. If you need to seek medical treatment from , there are ways to ensure you'll be saving as much money as possible. It may be possible, for example, to perform certain services at home, which will almost always be cheaper. For example, if a doctor tells you there is a slight buildup in your ear, a nurse can flush it out for an average cost of $70. You can buy that same kit at the drugstore for under $10. If it's a questionable service that you'll be paying for out of pocket, you may want to decline it. Ask questions, and be aware of what is covered by your plan and what is not. Obviously, if a procedure is more complicated and something you are not trained for, it's always safer to let a doctor's staff complete it. Also, if after you complete a home remedy you are still experiencing symptoms, it's a good idea to return to the doctor and have him re-check it.
Employer Healthcare Options
When you begin a new job, your employer will typically outline your healthcare options during your orientation. Many companies offer a few different tiers of coverage, which allows you to choose the healthcare option that works best for you. Some people only insure themselves while others insure their whole family. If you're not someone who gets sick often but wants to be insured just in case, you can opt for more affordable coverage that will cover preventative care and emergency situations. If you choose appropriately, you'll find you have very low costs for co-pays and little or no fees for services. If you are someone who has a specific health problem or concern and you require more frequent visits to your doctor's office, you take daily maintenance medication like blood pressure pills or cholesterol medication or you require frequent treatments such as dialysis, you're going to want to secure a higher tier health coverage. This will ensure you won't be paying large amounts of money for your healthcare.
Finding Your Own Coverage
The Internet is a great research tool for finding affordable health coverage. Many sites will allow you to pick the exact coverage you need. One of the best sites is healthinsurance.org (see Resources below). The site is packed with information about healthcare options, different kinds of coverage, definition of terms, and if you enter your zip code, you can get quotes based on the type of coverage you're looking for. Also, there is a state-by-state guide for healthcare opportunities. Cahi.org (see Resources below) is one of the most respected healthcare sites on the Internet. It provides you with up-to-date information on the country's current healthcare status, your best options for affordable healthcare, links to recent articles regarding healthcare and a list of current court cases involving healthcare. Another site, healthcoveragequotes.com (see Resources below), offers options for individual coverage, family coverage, student coverage and temporary coverage from some of the nation's top healthcare carriers, so you won't be covered by a small company you've never heard of.
Prescriptions
If you require medication, ask your doctor if a generic version of the drug is available. If there is, he can write that on your script, and you can often save money. The chemical makeup of the drug is usually slightly different, but more often than not, it accomplishes the same thing.
Medical Bills
Often times, with or without coverage, you wind up receiving bills for medical services rendered. It's important to take a good look at these bills because there may be something you can do to either lower the cost, or remove it completely. Read the bill completely. Sometimes the services you're being billed for never went through your insurance carrier. You can have the company billing you re-submit the prices through your carrier and see what happens. Also, take a look at what exactly you're being billed for. If you can't decipher what services you're actually paying for, call up the customer service number on the bill and ask for an explanation. If it turns out you're paying $80 for processing and billing fees, you may be able to complain and have the bill reduced. If the services you're being billed for were rejected by your insurance carrier, take a look at your policy and make sure there wasn't an error. The bill may not have been processed properly. Making sure every item is correct could save you some cash. Also, if you do owe for the service, you can always ask for a payment plan to help alleviate some of the burden and take some extra time to pay.
Tags: health coverage, being billed, have insurance, Resources below, your doctor