Managing Costs

Health care can be expensive. But you can help control your costs if you know how to use your plan and what is and is not covered. Here is how some people manage their costs.

Tom: Dealing with a bill

After his surgery, Tom got a bill from the anesthetist. “I thought it was a bill I should not have to pay. I called my health plan and they dealt with it. I had to be persistent, but it worked.”

“I am in an HMO. A friend told me to look at my evidence of coverage. She also said I could call the state. There’s a helpline, the HMO Help Center, where I might be able to get help. I found out that I shouldn’t have to pay this bill. My HMO should pay it.”

“Then it happened again. I had to have another surgery and I got another bill. This bill was for half the cost of the anesthesiologist. I called my HMO again and I said I wouldn’t pay it. I said I was going to call the state. My HMO paid the bill.”

More about HMO costs.

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