Safe Cost-cutting Measures to Try for Mental Health Bills

Medical bills seem to multiply faster than rabbits despite attempts to keep them manageable, and mental health bills can quickly reach staggering amounts. Unfortunately, this often leads to patients skipping appointments, cutting up pills or missing doses to save pills. This can lead to devastating consequences for mental health patients, and there are safer cost-cutting measures they can try.

Shop Around for Better Insurance

Even if you have reliable health insurance it is still important to shop around for the best deals. You are willing to shop for better car insurance or home insurance, so why not investigate other health plans? Sometimes providers can offer discounts and better rates that can help cut down on medical bills.

Negotiate Your Bills

Most people are not aware that they can negotiate their medical bills. This usually works better if you are paying cash instead of relying on insurance to cover the costs. Many hospitals and doctors offer discounts for cash payments and are willing to work with patients who have financial issues. Also, make sure you always get itemized bills to check for errors.

Examine Your Prescriptions Closely

Medication is often the source of some of the biggest out-of-pocket expenses for mental health patients. You may not be aware of some of the generic options that are available because doctors and pharmacists do not always inform people about savings. It is up to you to investigate possible generic alternatives and speak with your doctor to make sure you they will work for you.

Change Your Prescription Order Habits

Your local pharmacy may not be the best place to save money on prescriptions. Warehouse clubs and online retailers sometimes offer better deals and discounts for medications. You should explore all of the options available to you, and you may want to switch to ordering bigger prescription packages. Instead of getting your drugs for one month, consider ordering them for three or more months to get a discount.

Lana Bandoim is a freelance writer and editor. Her work has been published on websites ranging from Yahoo! News to Technorati.