ASK FOR THE CASH PRICE

If you have a high-deductible health insurance plan and don’t typically reach your annual out-of-pocket maximum, think about paying for appointments and treatments with cash instead of going through insurance. A 2023 study found that hospitals’ cash price was lower than the median insurance price nearly half the time, thanks to steep discounts for paying up front. The advice of Johns Hopkins University professor Ge Bai, the study’s senior author: Ask, “What’s the price if I pay in full today versus the insurance price?” (Note: In most cases, such a cash payment won’t count toward your deductible.)

LOOK FOR DEALS ON DRUGS

“Check all the coupon sites,” says journalist Dan Weissmann, creator of the health care podcast An Arm and a Leg. Companies including GoodRx, ScriptSave WellRx and Optum Rx (supplier of the AARP Prescription Discounts Provided by Optum Rx program) offer steep discounts off retail prices for select drugs at participating pharmacies. Warehouse clubs Costco and Sam’s Club discount heavily too. Sam’s Club Plus members can receive certain generic medications for 30 days at no cost and more than 600 generics for $10 or less. Savings at Costco can be up to 80 percent.

AVOID HOSPITALS FOR ROUTINE SCANS

A 2020 UnitedHealth Group report found that hospital outpatient imaging costs an eye-popping 165 percent more, on average, than the same scan at a stand-alone center. If your doctor orders a routine MRI scan, CT scan or echocardiogram, consider getting it done at an independent imaging clinic. Just make sure that the imaging center is covered by your insurance.

GET FREE HELP WITH BILLS AND DENIALS

If you’re battling a serious medical condition, the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation may be able to provide a case manager to help you fight billing errors, appeal insurance denials, negotiate payment options and qualify for financial support. The group says that in 2024 it provided assistance to more than 193,000 patients and distributed over $335 million in financial support. You can visit PatientAdvocate.org or call 800-532-5274 to connect with a case manager and learn whether you meet eligibility requirements.

BE CURIOUS ABOUT TREATMENT

Up to 30 percent of prescribed medical services provide little or no value, according to a study published by the American Board of Internal Medicine’s ABIM Foundation. Here are some useful questions you might ask a provider before you take a medication or opt for a test, surgery or other procedure:

▶︎ “Why do I need this?”

▶︎ “What happens if I don’t do it?”

▶︎“Are there side effects?”

▶︎“Are there lower-cost options?”

Visit aarp.org/medicalbills to learn 19 more ways to lower your health care costs.