The cost of care just keeps on rising.
Higher deductibles, bigger co-payments, more expensive premiums.
And all that is if you already have insurance. If you lost coverage because you lost your job, and ran out of the extended coverage under the COBRA law, you will be facing a very tough market. Insurance companies cut the best deal they can with doctors and hospitals. You can’t get that good a deal if you are going alone into the market, but you do have some muscle.
You can bargain, negotiate and ask for discounts. And there is a good chance you can get them. Don’t be afraid to try.
Here are some web sites with facts and figures to help in your bargaining:
If you feel uncomfortable about negotiating, here are some companies able to do the job for you. They will charge a fee or percentage.
Here is a free site where you will get help with a myriad of insurance related problems.
The Patient Advocate Foundation
At this site, patientadvocste.org, the mission is “o provide effective mediation and arbitration services to patients to remove obstacles to healthcare including medical debt crisis, insurance access issues and employment issues for patients with chronic, debilitating and life-threatening illnesses.
