HCW Benefits Blog

Contributor:
Rob Krieg, JD, CEBS, Consultant
Hill, Chesson & Woody

Doctors May Discount Bills — Just Ask!

Many business owners have had to make the difficult choice of increasing their employees’ share of health care costs by mandating higher deductibles in order to offset rising rates. However, recent studies show that 93 percent of people who take a proactive approach and ask their physicians the right questions, before treatment begins, have saved money on their health care bills at least one time. Educating your employees on this perspective of being an informed healthcare consumer is within reach for most organizations.

Why This is Important for Employers
Employee perception can be affected by any business decision that would decrease employee take-home pay whether through reduced compensation or via cost shifting of expenses associated with employee benefit plans. Helping to educate and arm your employees with questions and strategies to reduce any personal out-of-pocket expenses could go far in easing dissatisfaction that may come about from a shift to more personal responsibility.

Some tips to provide to employees for receiving discounts may include:

• Don't put off dealing with your medical bill.
• Make a phone call or write a letter directly to the provider to explain your situation and ask for a possible adjustment to the charges.
• Look for other assistance – apply to any and all public programs that may be available.
• Find out what others are paying/charging: The American Medical Association's Web site has a list of how much Medicare reimburses doctors for certain medical procedures. The AMA warns these are "bargain-basement prices" reserved for 39 million senior citizens and the disabled who need government assistance with their health insurance.
• Cash talks: Offer to pay your doctor the discounted amount you both deem reasonable in cash, immediately.
• Plead your own case: If a telephone call and a written request don't get you anywhere, meet with your doctor face to face and plead your case.

Creating and maintaining this employee ownership and additional perception of tangible value for your employee benefit plan will make sure that you are getting the most utility out of your benefit dollars. 

HCW Viewpoint
Educating your employees on how to be better consumers and negotiators of healthcare is a win/win. Not only does the employer receive credit from the employees for caring about their bottom line, but getting your employees engaged as partners in the purchasing of medical services is one of the critical components to controlling your healthcare claims cost and thus your healthcare premiums.  This concept may be one of several objectives you want as a focus for your employee benefit communication strategy.

For assistance in educating your employees on methods to make your benefit dollars go further, visit the following links and contact an HCW Benefit Consultant:

• Doctor Discounts for The Asking
• Haggle Your Way to Lower Health Care Bills
• How to Haggle for a Lower Price with your Doctor
• One Way to Lower a Doctor’s Bill