A new study challenges the justification drug companies make for why they charge so much for medications. For cancer drugs especially. The cost of drugs is way higher in the US than other countries. Reuters reports on average cancer drugs in the US are three times what they cost in the UK – which…
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See Chris Tomlinson’s Great Article
I gave Chris Tomlinson the best advice I know on how to keep your healthcare costs down, and he wrote 'Patients Should Shop for Lower Prices' http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/Patients-should-shop-for-lower-health-care-bills-6730354.php
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Pull Drug Ads from TV
Direct-to-consumer advertising encourages patients to ask for, and doctors to prescribe, what very often is not necessary or the best treatment.
I can’t understand what all these items are on my hospital bill. What’s “R&C Int & C Int 1 days @ $12,356?” Why does 1 Tylenol cost $2?
Consider trying to negotiate some of the unrealistic prices, especially if you are uninsured (many hospitals give an automatic discount if you are, but you often need the chutzpa to ask). Here's a good article that explains a lot of the vagaries of hospital billing. You can also get help with your hospital bill through the Patient Advocate Foundation.