11 simple ways to slash your medical bills

译者按：看病食药日益成为人们繁重的承担。那个问题不但在中国有，在人均收进位居世界前十的超等大国美国 USA 同样存在。

　　参考之资能够攻玉。

　　管窥。借鉴。本文翻译自2008年10月15日 AOL 首页的文章 ：

　　给你的医疗账单瘦身的11个窍门

　　11simple ways to slash your medical bills

　　表演起头了；---------------------------------------

　　美国每年破费在医疗方面的钱超越2.3万亿美圆。均匀每个美国人每年消耗7600美圆用于看病。而且那一数字还会陆续加大。政府估量，不外10年，你就将不能不拿出你的收进的20%用于看病。

　　Ken Daria Dolan，倍受欢送的小我理财专家，将教您若何在看病的账单上省出一大笔钱。

　　Americans spent more than $2.3 trillion on health care last year. That’s more than $7,600 per person -- and it’s going to get worse! The government projects that in less than a decade, you’ll spend 20% of your annual income on health care.Ken Daria Dolan, popular personal finance experts, going to show you how to save big bucks on your health care costs.

　　省钱第一招：在打折的时候买药

　　购置处方药的破费是许多美国人面对的严峻的问题。好动静是，我们国度的许多零售商之间的价格战有助于你省下一些钱。沃尔玛和Target卖场已经大大的扩展了他们的药品打折方案。如今，在90天内，你能够花10美圆买到许多药品，有1000多种药品只需4美圆就能够买到。许多其他的药店都在加进此次的药品打折潮。所以，下次你需要买处方药的时候就往沃尔玛，Target卖场，或者你的超市的药品专柜吧。

　　The cost of prescription drugs is a serious problem for many Americans. The good news is that a price war among some of our nation’s biggest retailers can save you money. Wal-Mart and Target have greatly expanded their drug discount programs. You can now get a 90-day supply of many medications for just $10 and more than 1,000 over-the-counter medications for $4. Lots of other stores are jumping into the drug discount fray to compete for business. So, do as we do: Next time you need that prescription drug, head to Wal-Mart or Target, or check with your supermarket’s pharmacy.

　　译者注：那招我们也能够借鉴。拿了处方找廉价药店往买药。

　　省钱第二招：向医生索要免费试用拆

　　下次你的医生给你开完处方以后，在你分开医生的办公室之前不要忘了问下面那个简单的问题：您有没有那种药的试用品？能否给我一点？造药商破费数百万美圆用于向医生赠予各类药品的试用拆，以等待医生会在处方上开出那种药品。医生的办公室经常堆满了那种免费的药品，只要你启齿要，医生会很大方的送给你。如许你在花大钱买下整个处方上面的药品之前，还能够试一试那种药物对你来说是不是有效，有没有副感化。

　　The next time your doctor writes you a prescription, don’t leave the office before you ask him a simple question: Do you have any samples that you can give me?Drug companies spend millions giving doctors free samples in the hopes that the doctor will prescribe their product. Doctors’ offices are overflowing with all the free drug samples they get and will gladly hand them over if you just ask. This is also a great way to try out a medication to be sure it works, doesn’t have any negative side effects, etc. before you spend money on having a whole prescription filled.

　　译者注：不晓得药商送给医生的试用拆是不是变相的回扣。假设是变相回扣，医生估量不会好意的免费送给病人吧。那一招，在中国，能够必定的说，没用。

　　省钱第三招：买通用药品

　　根据FDA的说法，假设你尽量买通用药物而不是品牌药物，你将能够最多省下52%的买药破费。

　　人们不愿购置通用药物的首要原因是，人们不相信通用药物和品牌药物比拟具有不异的药效和平安性。通用药物看起来有点纷歧样，那是因为此中含有一些无活性的成分，好比加上了颜色或者是好食的味道。但是那些成分其实不影响药物的疗效和平安性。

　　FDA关于通用药物的准进把关很严。假设你的医生或者Health Provider 告诉你你能够选用通用药物或者品牌药物，为什么要多花钱呢？

　　According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you can save as much as 52% on the cost of your prescription drugs by going with the generic drug over a brand name. The number one reason most people don’t say "yes" to generics is concern that generics aren’t as effective or safe as the brand name. Generic drugs look different because certain inactive ingredients may be different, but these ingredients do not affect the performance or safety of the generic drug. IF your doctor or health provider says that you may fill a prescription with a generic drug vs. a brand name one...why pay more?

　　译者注：generic drug 是指利用已颠末期的专利手艺消费的药物。我把它翻译为通用药物，也许不当，或者是根本药物更好些。归正那个好工具，在伟大的祖国是没有的。

　　省钱第四招：用一个弹性消费帐户FSA

　　我们是FSA的粉丝（Flexible Spending Account）。问问你们公司，看看是不是供给如许的福利，假设能够打点FSA ，就赶紧往办吧。FSA是一个能够减免税款的帐户，你能够用那个帐户给那些安康保险不克不及笼盖的药物，药品，医疗器械付账。好比非处方药品，护踝，眼镜等等。你在FSA帐户里面花出往的钱，都能够在你报税的时候刨出往，如许以来，你需要报税的收进就削减了许多，你的现实购置力就增加的好多。一对夫妇每年最多能够往FSA里面放5000美圆。

　　FSA独一的一点缺陷是，假设到年末的时候你没把FSA里面存的钱花完，你不克不及把剩余的钱取出来。要么花光，要么就没了。在往FSA里面放钱的时候，可别忘了那一点啊。

　　We’re big fans of the Flexible Spending Account (FSA), so ask your company if they offer this benefit and be sure to enroll if they do. An FSA is a tax-sheltered account that you use to pay for the family medical expenses that your health insurer won’t reimburse. All of your contributions are made in pre-tax dollars, so your taxable income is lower and your money has more buying power. A couple filing jointly may contribute up to $5,000 a year. The only hitch to FSAs is that if you don’t spend the money by the end of the year, you don’t get back whatever is left over. It’s use it or lose it. Keep that in mind as you decide how much to contribute.

　　译者注：美国所得税申报比力严厉，搞欠好会坐牢的，所以一笔收入假设能在报税之前刨出往，仍是能省很多钱的。那一条关于天朝的老苍生没用。

　　省钱第五招：操纵退税削减你的医疗收入

　　假设你的医疗收入超越了毛收进的7.5%，你就有资格申请通过退税削减你的医疗收入。看起来7.5%是一个很高的门槛，但是，假设你把花在看病上面的钱全数加起来，仍是有可能到达那个门槛的。

　　你能够把你本身的，你配头的，你奉养的白叟或者小孩的医疗开收通盘加起来。能够包罗所有的原则医疗开收，好比，看医生的诊费，处方药，手术费用，查抄费用等等。不只如斯，你还能够把你的保险费，看牙，打针，生孩子的破费，以及医生开出的减肥药费用，神经系统弊端的费用，特殊教诲的费用等等等等。往下载一个IRS 502表格认真看看吧，搞清晰哪些能够算进往，哪些不克不及算进往。

　　If certain medical expenses are greater than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, you qualify to deduct them from your taxes. That 7.5% might sound like a high hurdle, but it might not be out of reach once you add it all up. You can include medical expenses for yourself, your spouse and all your dependents. All the standard medical costs count -- doctors, prescription drugs, surgeries, etc. But you can also deduct your insurance premiums, dental expenses, acupuncture, fertility treatment, chiropractic, special education and much more. Get a copy of IRS publication 502 for a full list of what expenses you can and can’t deduct.

　　译者注：IRS 就是美国人申请退税的处所。只要在USA如许有较严厉报税轨制的处所，才会有给老苍生退税的轨制。在天朝，各人报税都是一笔糊涂账，哪个官员会想起来给老苍生退税呢？您老下次少报点不就得了？

　　省钱第六招：参与临床尝试获得免费医治

　　是不是要参与临床尝试，那往往是一个困难的决定。停止临床试验的新药天晓得会不会有效，但是至少能够给你省下一吨钱。因为临床试验要给病人减免许多费用，以至全数费用。有些临床试验还要给患者倒贴钱。

　　并且，没准儿你参与研造的新药不只能够救了你的命，并且能够挽救许多和你一样的患者的生命呢。

　　下面是两个网站，能够帮你找到上千个临床试验的信息。

　　Choosing whether or not to take part in a clinical trial can be a tough decision. There’s no guarantee the experimental treatment will work, but it can save you a ton of money because many -- if not all -- of the costs are taken care of. (And in many cases, patients actually get paid to participate.) And who knows? You just may be responsible for finding a new drug or procedure that not only saves your life, but the life of others as well. Here are two resources that can help you find thousands of clinical trials - first, on the National Institutes of Health web site at

　　译者注：临床试验仍是加小心的好。出格是在天朝。我怕怕。我必定不参与。

　　省钱第七招：打折

　　保险公司往往在和病院，医生，尝试室会谈以后，就能够在医疗账单上打折，最多能够打到4折。当你没有医疗保险时，或者医疗保险不克不及笼盖你的药费的时候，你就不能不全额付款。但是，你能够想想办法。

　　关键是要勇于要求打折。既然保险公司能够给医疗账单打6折到4折，那么你必然要争取给你的账单打折。据Consumer Reports National Research Center的陈述，只要31%的美国人会在医疗账单上讨价还价。但是，那此中有93%的人能够得到大小不等的折扣。所以，尽量的往讨价还价吧！

　　必然要确定你会谈的对象有权给你打折，凡是那小我是收费室的头头。假设他或她无权给你打折，就请他把他们的头头喊来。

　　Insurance companies negotiate deep discounts of up to 60% with hospitals, doctors, labs, etc. When you don’t have insurance or something isn’t covered, you end up paying full price. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

　　The key is to ask for a discount. Insurance companies get as much as a 40% to 60% discount, so ask for that first. According to a survey by Consumer Reports National Research Center, only 31% of Americans have even tried to negotiate their medical bills; of the ones who have, though, 93% were successful in getting a discounts, so go for it!

　　Just make sure you talk to the right person -- usually that’s the head of billing. If he or she doesn’t have the power to negotiate, ask to speak to someone who can

　　译者注：那个是头一次传闻。药费在USA能够打折！！！！

　　省钱第八招：认真看账单

　　任何人城市犯错误。但是，病院必定会犯良多错误。在比来一项查询拜访中发现，10所病院傍边的8所，在账单上有错误，那些错误均匀要让患者多花高达25%的钱。

　　必然要拿到病院开出的收费明细账单，如许你就能够一行一行的认真查对。觅觅常见的错误，好比反复收费，代码选错了错误收费，你没做过的查抄的收费，或者是医疗保险的项目选错了等等。还有，要看看你进院和出院的时间有没有搞错。给病院的收费室打德律风，假设发现错误的话。

　　Cost Cutter No. 8:

　　Everyone makes mistakes. But hospitals sure do make a lot of them. In a recent review, eight of 10 hospital bills had errors, and those errors cost patients an extra 25% on average! Be sure you get an itemized bill from the hospital so you can look at each charge line by line. Look for common mistakes such as duplicate charges, coding errors that charge you for the wrong thing, tests you didn’t have, and wrongly applied insurance deductibles. Plus, check your admission and discharge dates to be sure they are correct. Call the hospital’s billing department to correct errors.

　　译者注：看来病院乱收费的问题不是天朝独家。哈哈

　　省钱第九招：别随便舍弃

　　老话说的好：“If at first you don’t succeed, try try again ”。在和保险公司以及病院会谈的时候，那一条也很有用。许多时候，你的要求被回绝了，因为一个简单的账单错误或者代码错误很好处理。假设保险公司回绝了你的要求，你就让他们把回绝的理由说清晰。记清晰是谁和你会谈，以及他都说了些什么。假设在德律风里说不清晰，就写信向保险公司正式地提出要求。你的信件中应该包罗你的要求的原因，以及撑持你的要求的相关文件。

　　记住，有40%被拒的claim在颠末appeal之后完成了大逆转。你每年都乖乖的给保险公司付钱，所以你必然要确保你的每一分钱都花的很值。

　　The old saying "If at first you don’t succeed, try try again" certainly applies to getting your medical claims paid. If your insurance company denies your claim, call your insurer and have them explain in detail the reason for the denial. If the problem isn’t resolved in that call, then request a formal appeal from your insurance company. If you need help, get free assistance from the Patient Advocate Foundation. Your appeal should include a letter stating the reasons why your claim should be paid, along with any support documents you might have. Keep in mind that more than 40% of claim denials are reversed due to appeals.

　　译者注：那一段我根本看不大白。胡乱翻译了一下。

　　省钱第十招：本身往买医疗设备

　　你往看医生的时候，往往需要购置一些医疗器械或者设备，好比手杖，足围，气道喷雾器等。假设你的保险公司能替你百分百付钱，那当然好。给保险公司打个德律风，他们就会告诉你能不克不及报销。假设不克不及报销，那么请在买单之前好好想想。假设你本身往到四周的医药商铺或者在网上买那些工具，你将能省下一大笔钱。

　　如许必定不如你在需要用那些工具的时候间接付钱便利，但是如许能够给你省25%的钱，以至更多，在今天经济不景气的大情况下，为什么不多节约一点呢？

　　A visit to the hospital or doctor sometime leads to you needing a medical device or equipment, like crutches, a foot brace, a breathing nebulizer, etc. If your insurance covers 100% of that expense, great. If not, think twice before buying what you need from your physician or hospital because you’ll pay a mark up. You can probably save a bundle by buying those products on your own -- either through a local medical equipment dealer or online. It can save you 25% or more, and who couldn’t use that kind of savings in these tough times?

　　译者注：有用。看来USA的器械商和医生之间也有一些猫腻啊。不外，明显没有天朝的凶猛。USA只要25%的利润空间。嘿嘿。

　　省钱第十一招：记着往到你的保险公司指定病院看病

　　那一点的重要性再怎么多说也不外分。假设你是一家医疗保险的客户，必然记着到那家保险公司保障范畴内的医生那里往看病。

　　假设你偏偏不往指定病院，你可能要多花30%的钱。更不消说你在指定病院之外看病，到报销的时候要费多大功夫筹办各类素材。大都情状下，你要本身先付钱，然后才气往保险公司申请报销。

　　你本来能够不找那么大费事并且不多花那么多冤枉钱的。记着往定点病院啊。

　　We can’t emphasize this enough: If you’re part of a network of healthcare providers, such as a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), it’s mission-critical for you to see only the physicians within that network. If you don’t, you may pay 30% or more of your medical bill, as opposed to having all or most of it covered if you stay within your network. Not to mention that going out of your network typically means both more paperwork and out-of-pocket expense for you. More times than not, you’ll have to pay your entire bill up front and then submit for reimbursement from your insurance company. Stick with your network.

　　譯者註：和天朝差不多。

　　小结：

　　那十一条窍门能够很轻松的帮你省下好几千美圆。但是，今天的情况下，医疗账单并非独一需要你动动脑筋想办法省钱的处所。