Information
Prevention and Wellness
Visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and click on Prevention and Wellness for health care prevention tips.
Also visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality U.S. Preventative Services Task Force’s recommended tests to get the government’s latest recommendations, including how often to get your blood pressure checked and when to have a colonoscopy.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to get their immunization schedule.
Insurance
Visit EHealthInsurance.com to search for insurance (caveat: those rates apply to the healthiest people; see an independent agent for the best insurer and rates for your situation). Also, the site has information on health savings accounts (HSAs) and options for small-business owners. The portal for student health information is also good for budget-conscious undergrad and graduate students not covered under a parental policy. Discount cards are also offered through the site.
Visit HealthInsurance.com for detailed estimates of multiple health insurance plans in your state and what’s covered under them. You can apply online, without having to provide medical records. They also provide estimates on travel insurance and dental coverage.
Visit the National Association of Health Underwriters for a directory of independent insurance agents who can help you find health insurance.
Visit State Health Facts and click on Managed Care and Health Insurance for help on options for finding insurance in your state.
Medical Care Procedure Cost
Ask your physician for the CPT code for the procedure. Then look it up at HHS.gov. Consider offering your physician the price listed at the web site plus 10 percent and to help lock the deal offer to pay immediately.
Otherwise, visit sites that give you the ability to shop for a medical procedure. With these sites, don’t settle for the first price offered. Unlike traditional retailers, health providers don’t usually advertise sales.
Visit pricedoc.com, a site that shows you what specific doctors around the country charge for various procedures. The goal of this site is to help consumers find a low price for services their insurers won’t cover. Patients search by zip code for a list of doctors and their prices. Some of the doctors listed on the site prefer to negotiate and include the “make me an offer” button on their profile, while others just list their lowest price. Most of the consumers who use this site are looking for dental, vision, cosmetic and dermatology procedures. Many have individual insurance policies, whuch typically have high deductibles, or are paying for care out of a health savings account.
Visit OutOfPocket.com for a price-based directory of health care services. Customers of this site are primarily interested in prices for dental and vision procedures.
Visit NewChoiceHealth.com for price ranges for procedures at various health care facilities.
Finding a Great Doctor in Your Network
Visit Vitals.com to find a great doctor who’s in your plan. Vitals is a comprehensive physician-rating site that can show you only doctors who are covered by your health plan. It tells you their education, board certifications, work backgrounds, and patient ratings. One feature of the site is that you can input your symptoms and Vitals will guide you to relevant specialists near you.
Finding a Hospital
Visit Healthgrades.com and click on “hospitals” and enter your location and procedure. HealthGrades will rank the quality of hospitals near you, showing how often patients there had major complications following surgery. You can see which hospitals have advanced technology.
Visit Whynotthebest.org, run by a private foundation, to get advice on the best hospitals.
Medications
Visit NeedyMeds to see if you are eligible for a medication-assistance program.
