Rx on how to save on medical bills

Rising health bills can send you to the poor house and cause stress. As one gets older, there are inevitable medical bills, pills, and tests. Here are some secret tips on reducing your bills, both out-patient expenses and in-hospital costs.

• Save on out-patient medical care. Choose a good primary-care doctor. Your primary-care doctor is like your family doctor, one who takes care of the checkups and oversees your healthcare. He/she is trained in family medicine or internal medicine.

A primary-care doctor can take care of 70-80 percent of your health problems while referring you to a specialist only when necessary. If you go to several specialists, you may end up taking a dozen pills with some conflicting results. By prioritizing your needs, your doctor can cut down on your pills.

• Ask about generic equivalents and alternative drug options. Usually, doctors have more than one option when treating a disease. In the case of, say, diabetes, there may be four excellent starting drugs, with costs ranging from P150 per tablet to just P7 per tablet.

• Be honest. If your budget for medicines is only P30 per day, go ahead and tell your doctor outright. This is nothing to be ashamed of. A good doctor should find cheaper options to suit your budget.

• Ask which pills are essential and which are just supplements. Some drugs are considered essential while others may just serve as supplements. If your doctor prescribes you five pills, ask if you need to take them all or not. Sometimes, only three drugs are a must and the rest are optional.

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Remember your “sex-hdl.” This mnemonic was coined by Dr. Ramon Abarquez and stands for S — quit smoking, E — stop overeating, X — exercise regularly, H — treat hypertension, D — treat diabetes, and L — control your lipids (cholesterol).

• Get a health card and use it. If you’re a billionaire, you don’t need a health card. Otherwise, health cards or company health packages can save you money. Be sure to avail yourself of the free checkup. By finding the disease early, the chances for cure are much better.

• Look for affordable laboratory centers. With laboratory centers sprouting everywhere, your doctor may recommend to you a reliable center that is not too expensive. The key is in finding an affordable laboratory center that still gives accurate results.

• Make use of Botika ng Bayan and The Generics Pharmacy. Through the efforts of Secretary Francisco Duque of the Department of Health, the costs of selected drugs have been lowered. For common diseases, there are cheaper drug options in these new drugstores. I suggest you try them.

• Use your senior citizen card. If you’re over 60 years old, you can avail yourself of a 20-percent discount in drug stores. Just ask your doctor to write you a complete prescription and prescribe sufficient amounts of tablets to last you until the next visit.

• Have your medical folder handy.  A medical file is of immense use. Make sure that you photocopy your laboratory results and arrange them neatly with the latest tests on top. Hence, your doctor will know which tests have already been done and avoid duplication. If you are seeing different doctors, having a folder also helps coordinate your various treatment plans. It’s your life on the line. Bring your folder every time you go to a clinic or the ER (emergency room).

• Read up on your disease. The educated patient lives longer, so says Dr. Joslin, a renowned American doctor. By understanding your disease, you will be in a good position to monitor and take care of your own body better. Just be careful not to get caught up in sensational and unfounded claims. Ask your doctor first before changing your medicines.

Cutting Down On Hospital Costs

In case you’re admitted in a hospital, here are important tips that can save you tens of thousands of pesos.

• If possible, look for an affordable hospital and a good doctor. If you choose to get admitted in an expensive hospital, you can expect your bills to skyrocket by the hour. If you choose a famous and expensive doctor, don’t complain when you see the zeros in the professional fee. I know this is hard advice, but ask around for a hospital and doctor that will cure you and not leave you bankrupt.

• If you have a health card, tell the hospital as early as possible. Your health card can save you money. In the confusion, you may have forgotten to inform the hospital that you have a card. By not informing the hospital early, you may forfeit your privileges and pay out of your pocket.

• Get a small private room or stay in the wards.

If you’re really hard up, choose the cheapest room you can stay comfortably in. Prices for the tests, medicines, and doctors’ fees are based on your room rate. This is not a time to be extravagant. Choose a cheaper room and cut your hospital bill in half.

• Bring your medical files and pills.  As mentioned earlier, a medical folder, containing your previous lab tests and prescriptions, is very useful to your doctor. He/ she will know which tests have already been done and avoid repeating them.

• Bring your pills to the hospital to save on drug expenses. Sometimes, drug prices are higher inside the hospital than in the drug stores. So, bringing your pills to the hospital can save you money. Some kind hospitals (God bless them) also allow patients to buy medicines from outside.

• Enroll in PhilHealth. In addition to your health card, PhilHealth offers additional savings. Especially for surgical procedures, PhilHealth may help you reduce your hospital and doctor’s bills. Remember, get a PhilHealth form as soon as you check in and have your doctor sign it before you are discharged. There are PhilHealth requirements you need to submit, too.

• Follow your doctor’s advice and get out of the hospital as soon as possible. By following your doctor, you can fast track your cure. After an operation, try to ambulate as soon as your doctor allows you to. Negative thinking and worrying will only prolong your stay and make you prone to complications.

• Ask your doctor about the disease. What are the risks involved in the procedures? What’s the prognosis? Your doctor will be happy to explain your condition. If a test is too expensive or too risky, your doctor will ask your decision before proceeding. In life-threatening cases, some extraordinary procedures, such as life-support machines and resuscitation, should also be discussed. Ask about the patient’s chances before going through with these costly procedures.

• Don’t antagonize your nurses or the doctor’s secretary. A tip from the inside. Most health workers are compassionate and understanding, but they are human. too. By constantly complaining and being too demanding, you may unknowingly offend the people your life depends on. Treat your resident doctors and nurses with respect. If you do, you will be surprised at how much extra care you will get and your hospital bill will drop, too.

• Finally, in serious cases, prioritize your health. You can earn later. Remember, it’s not always too late. Sometimes, getting sick can be a blessing if you treat it as a wake-up call to care for yourself better.

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