Metropolitan Atlanta Hospital Accountability Project

• Get a yearly physical, which can alert you to any issues you may have that could lead to medical issues down the road. By knowing you may have a medical problem, you are able to take proactive steps towards your wellness. Be sure, though, to know the costs of each test before you have it so you are prepared for the bill once it comes.

• Get your teeth cleaned twice a year. Good oral hygiene is essential for good health, as issues with your teeth and gums can lead to more severe medical issues.

• Know your free or reduced clinics, and use these as your first stop for care. By utilizing neighborhood clinics, you can often avoid hospital visits, which are far more expensive than a clinic visit. Most clinics have waiting lists and limited hours of operations, so be sure to check with the individual clinic.

• Do not go to the emergency room unless it is a true emergency. As soon as you sign in at an emergency room, you have incurred a cost that ranges between $300 to $750, even before you see a nurse or doctor.

• If you do require hospital care and are not eligible for financial assistance, try negotiating with the hospital. Most will give you a discount on your care if you agree to pay the bill. You should, though, request an itemized bill that you scrutinize carefully so you don’t agree to pay for services, tests or medications you did not receive.

• Always ask for a detailed bill that has each charge itemized so you are able to double check for errors. Common errors include: Charges for medications that were not administered and charges for a private room when you shared your room.

• Know your rights as a health care consumer. Hospitals and other health care providers are obligated to give you clear and transparent financial information about your bill and any health care procedures.

• Ask questions. It’s your right to ask your doctor why he is ordering a certain medical test and for your doctor to explain why this is medically appropriate. If you do not have insurance, this is especially important so that you avoid unnecessary tests that will drive up your bill.

• If you are uninsured or have high deductibles, inquire about charges before seeing your doctor or a specialist.

• If you are insured, read each page of your insurance policy carefully. If you don’t understand a portion of your policy, call the insurer’s help line for clarification. Understanding what coverage you have could help you avoid costly bills.

New York, NY, May 11, 2009—Women are more likely than men to feel the pinch of rising health costs and eroding health benefits, with about half (52%) of working-age women reporting problems accessing needed care because of costs, compared to 39 percent of men, a new Commonwealth Fund study finds. Women who are insured but have inadequate coverage are especially vulnerable: 69 percent of underinsured women have problems accessing care because of costs, compared to half (49%) of underinsured men. Read the rest of this entry →

From ABC News: …The country’s health care leaders pledged Monday to reduce the annual growth of health spending by 1.5 percentage points — which they say will save $2 trillion in 10 years — some health policy experts say that it is unlikely that Americans will see any of this money returning to their own pocketbooks, despite the crippling health care costs that some face. Read the rest of this entry →

here’s a growing class of Americans known as the “underinsured.” These are people who have health insurance, but whose medical bills make up more than 10 percent of their annual income.

Host Jacki Lyden gets the latest estimate from health economist Cathy Schoen, a senior vice president of the Commonwealth Fund. Listen to the NPR Web cast here.

Some people can’t buy health insurance because they have a pre-existing medical condition. But for most of the nation’s 47 million uninsured, cost is the big obstacle — especially if they don’t work for a company that pays part of the premium. Hear the broadcast here.

And even if they could find an affordable health plan, many are not used to building that cost into their monthly budget. Potential sticker shock is emerging as a key issue in the nation’s debate over whether everybody should be covered. Read the rest of this entry →

As President Obama and the U.S. Congress continue health care reform discussions, a new survey, The Public and the Health Care Delivery System, by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health highlights the public’s attitudes and experiences with the American health care delivery system. Read the rest of this entry →

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Ask most Americans how much it costs to visit a doctor and they probably do not know. Ask doctors what their fees are and they’re not likely to know that either. Read the rest of this entry →

What is the Indigent Care Trust Fund? The Indigent Care Trust Fund (ICTF) is a state-sponsored program that subsidizes care for low-income individuals at participating hospitals. This subsidized care is available on both an inpatient and outpatient basis, regardless of whether there is an emergency. It can either cover an entire bill or just a portion, depending on income. The hospital must treat these patients the same as any other patient. The hospitals receive a certain amount of money each year to provide this care. Read the rest of this entry →