The
price of medical tests and exams can be vastly different within the same city
or even just a few blocks away. Health Briefs TV reviews how to find affordable
health care in your neighborhood.
Several
factors go into the price of one medical test: location of the medical office
or diagnostic center, overhead costs, rental price of the facility, and the
methods used to testing. But what can cost less than a hundred dollars in one
area, can cost more than 200 dollars just a few miles away. Here’s how to find
the best and most affordable health care:
If
insured, log in to the health insurance website and locate providers for the
test. Call each one and ask for the cost of the test or exam. Keep a list of
the providers called and compare proximity to home and price. Choose the best
one for both.
The
Health Briefs television show also recommends going online to find resources
for comparing and calculating health care costs. Most health insurance websites
offer some sort of resource for estimating the cost of medical needs. And there
are other good sites that do the same such as the one at Fair Health Consumer.
People should spend a little time researching the best options for the most
affordable cost.
Consider
urgent care centers instead of going to the emergency room for less serious
concerns such as fevers, cuts, and sprains. Pharmacy healthcare clinics are
another good source for life’s minor health concerns. Write down any questions
for the medical provider and be sure to ask them all. It is up to each one of us to be our own
medical advocate.
