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It's easier than you may
realize to negotiate a reduced rate for medical
care.
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Why it's okay to ask.
If you do not qualify for Cataract Free
America® benefits or if you live in an area where there are
no Cataract Free America® providers, you may find that your
best course of action is to seek a discount on medical costs
yourself.
In all areas of medicine there may be
many different prices for the same medical procedure - any
medical procedure. Insurance companies negotiate discounted
prices and each insurance plan can have its own price that
the doctor will accept. The government does the same thing
though the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs.
Many labor unions negotiate different prices and discounts
for their members. Even social groups will negotiate a
lowered price for their members. Doctors are accustomed to
accepting different amounts for the exact same service.
There can be several price brackets for the same surgery by
the same surgeon and these price brackets already exist. If
a doctor is willing to accept a lower cost for a particular
group (insurance, union, social, etc.) why not ask for this
lowest cost?
Seek the lowest current price.
Tell the doctor/staff that you understand that different
groups may have different costs available and you would like
the doctor to accept from you an amount equal to the lowest
price the doctor already accepts from someone else. Be
prepared by learning
what Medicare pays for cataract surgery as this is often
the lowest price the doctor accepts.
It can feel odd to ask a doctor or staff if a lower cost
is available for the same procedure, but if the doctor is
willing to accept a lower amount from one group than from
another, shouldn't you ask be get that lowest charge? Of
course you should.
You need everyone involved.
The three major providers for cataract surgery are the
physician, anesthesiologist, and surgery center. You need to
gain the cooperation of all three of these providers to
attain the lowest possible fees. Many surgeons own their own
ambulatory surgery center for performing cataract surgery
and can provide a "package deal" including all your needs.
Can you handle rejection?
The worst that can happen if you ask to pay the lowest
accepted cost is that your request will be declined. Most
can handle that kind of rejection for the possibility of
significant cost savings.
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