Nearly everyone wants to save more money, including when it comes to paying for medical care. To help encourage that, various recent federal regulations have spurred a greater focus on health care cost transparency, both by hospitals and health plans, in and effort to help patients avoid unexpected medical bills.
For instance, the No Surprises Act is designed to help reduce the likelihood of people receiving an unexpectedly large medical bill, something that more than half of Americans have experienced. Other recent regulations require hospitals to post prices online, while health insurers have been mandated to do the same.
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While these efforts offer important protections, there are various other ways to help avoid unexpected medical bills. Here are five strategies to consider:
Comparison shop based on quality and cost. Health plans are now required to publicly disclose contracted rates with health care providers and facilities, with additional requirements for more consumer-friendly disclosures slated to start in 2023. Fortunately, some health plans already offer transparency resources. For instance, millions of UnitedHealthcare members have access to health care quality and cost information for more than 820 common medical services, with the information available online, via a mobile app or by calling customer service. Before scheduling a medical appointment, check with your health plan to review quality and cost information, ideally for estimates based on actual contracted rates and customized based on your individual plan.
Stay in-network. While the No Surprises Act helps reduce the chance you will be left with a big bill if an out-of-network provider is involved with your care, it’s important to always start with in-network health care professionals and facilities for nonemergency care. That includes when referred by a primary care physician to labs for bloodwork, imaging (e.g., MRIs) and other tests. To help reduce the risk of surprise charges, some health plans such as UnitedHealthcare are proactively contacting members before they go out of network, sending a text message, emailing or calling to notify them about more affordable in-network options.
Recognize remaining risks. Even with upfront research, there are still a few potential risks to be aware of. Many health plans cover preventive services, such as wellness visits, mammograms or colonoscopies. However, some advanced screenings may not be considered preventive services and can result in an out-of-pocket charge. To help avoid that, confirm with your health plan that any services or tests are covered under your benefits, potentially working with your care provider to complete a preauthorization form in advance.
Negotiate surprise bills. In the event of a surprise bill, talk with the support staff at the hospital or doctor’s office to request that the charge be waived or reduced. If needed, some health plans offer access to resolution support to help negotiate on behalf of members with hospitals and care providers. If you receive a surprise bill from an out-of-network care provider, call the number on the back of your insurance ID card to alert your health plan and check on assistance.
Consider plans with upfront pricing. Rather than receiving medical care and then waiting for the bill to arrive weeks or months later some new health plans such as Surest enable members to review – and pay for – out-of-pocket expenses before medical care is delivered. The goal is to make navigating the health system simpler and more transparent, in part by eliminating deductibles and using clear pricing to encourage people to select quality, cost-efficient health care providers and facilities.
In view of increasing price sensitivity due to rising inflation and other factors, considering these strategies may help contribute to your physical and financial well-being while reducing the risk of a surprise medical bill.
Author: Heather Kane is CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Arizona.
