How to Negotiate for Doctor's Visits if You Have No Insurance

A simple trip to the doctor can be difficult, and expensive, if you do not have health insurance. While those with health-care policies in place pay a negotiated rate for the services they receive, the uninsured typically pay a much higher rate. That can leave the poor and uninsured even further in debt. But the good news is that you might be able to negotiate a lower rate with your health-care provider. As CBS News recently reported, some doctors offices are willing to negotiate, even offering discounts for patients who pay cash at the time of service.

Instructions

• 1

  Call your doctor's office ahead of time and ask if it has a discount program for patients who pay cash at the time of service. Many medical offices and clinics have already instituted cash discount policies. The medical office saves on the administrative costs associated with billing and is often willing to pass the savings on to patients. You might have better luck negotiating with a doctor you know, but you may be able to negotiate a lower price even with a new provider.

• 2

  Try to find out what the insurance companies pay the doctor, and then negotiate your own cash price from there. If you have an old explanation of benefits, or EOB, from an old insurer, pull it out and look at the amount the insurance company actually paid the doctor. The EOB shows the price the doctor billed and what the insurance company paid. Chances are the amount the insurance company paid was considerably less than the billed amount.

• 3

  Bring that EOB with you to the doctor's office and use it as leverage to negotiate the same type of deal on your behalf. You can point out that the doctor was previously willing to accept a significantly lower payment and that the office should be willing to honor that rate. Even if you do not get the group rate negotiated by the insurance company, chances are you will walk away with a significant discount off the billed charges.

• 4

  Negotiate directly with your doctor. ABC News recommends that patients negotiate directly with their doctors instead of working through a nurse, the front office or the billing department. Doctors are familiar with the various billing practices used in the industry, and they are generally receptive to patients who need help paying their medical bills.

• 5

  Ask for the Medicare rate, especially if you are expect to need a lot of office visits. The Medicare rate is what the government pays on behalf of Medicare recipients, and it is considerably lower than the rate most doctors charge for an office visit.