If you need any proof that health care costs are constantly rising, look to a recent NPR study, which reports that "health care now accounts for 18 cents of every dollar Americans spend, up from 7 cents in 1970." The majority of that money goes toward hospitals (37.3%), followed by doctors and other healthcare professionals (31.7%), drugs and medical devices (15.4%), and nursing homes and caregivers (9.7%). With these costs crushing some families, particularly those without insurance, it's a good idea to be aware of the fact that you can, in fact, comparison shop when it comes to your healthcare costs.
Many consumers will call various practices to ask what the standard charge is for a particular service or medication. I know someone who recently questioned whether her dentist was actually charging reasonable prices. After phoning several other dentists, she found that she was able to save almost 35% in dental fees by changing to another practice that was actually closer to her house.
Before you begin making your comparison calls, you can check out a few apps that do some of that legwork for you. These apps can show you the best locations for savings on medications, lab tests, physician fees, and other services.
Health care is one area where you certainly don't want to cut quality -- but that doesn't mean you can't save some money.
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