A small explanation first: I'm Native American, if you don't know why that's relevant it's because I receive health care, insurance free, through treaty rights as long as I use the Indian Health Service. This has also (and still does) protect me from fines associated with not having health insurance.
This has been the case for most of my life until I moved too far away from the IHS to make it worth while to make trips for check ups/routine appointments. As such the concerns of needing Health Insurance is new to me (I'm almost 30).
I've been seen recently by the local hospital once a month for 4 month and was charged $600. It was suggested I look into getting health coverage to cover the cost, however my health coverage will cost $250-$300 a month. Considering I will only been seen once a month at most, and usually not at all, that's gross overspending.
I realize the high price is to help cover the cost of people with more expensive medical needs.
Taking these things into consideration: I am not legally required to have health insurance, using health insurance for check ups is very cost ineffective, large things like operations, eyeglasses, and dental I simply travel home for anyway, and emergencies get deferred to my primary care physician if I'm stable (IHS). Is there any reason I shouldn't just pay out-of-pocket for health care?
I have heard it's possible to negotiate prices with hospitals. Is there a proper process to go about this? I have no idea where to start with that process. U.S. hospitals keep fees very well hidden from you until you receive a bill, and anytime I've asked for how much something will cost hospital employees have been quite taken aback.
Submitted March 10, 2017 at 01:30PM by ZeusHatesTrees http://ift.tt/2mscKAl
