In health care, the consumer mentality continues to grow. Over half the respondents to Deloitte’s 2015 Survey of U.S. Health Care Consumers said they go online to research information about their medical needs. At the same time, only 30 percent of consumers are comparing prices before an appointment or procedure, according to a recent survey from HealthMine.
“Consumers definitely want cost transparency in medical care, but there’s still a disconnect that keeps some people from putting it into practice,” says Veronica Hawkins, Medical Mutual vice president of Government Accounts. “While more insurance carriers have introduced cost estimating tools, employees need to understand what the tools can do and how to use them effectively.”
Smart Business spoke with Hawkins about why cost transparency is so important, how cost comparison tools generally work and how much difference a little research with the right tools can make.
Why is cost transparency important?
With many employers moving to high-deductible health plans, employees are being asked to cover more of their medical expenses. To do that, they need to be able to evaluate their options and make the most informed decisions they can.
That means knowing how much a visit or a procedure is going to cost before they go — not after they get a bill. Most people don’t understand that costs can vary widely for medical services. They are surprised to learn costs can even be different for the same procedure, performed by the same provider at different locations.
How do cost comparison tools work?
Depending on the organization’s insurance carrier and the employee’s specific health plan, each tool will probably work a little differently. Price estimates are often available for everything from office visits to X-rays and surgical procedures. The estimates may factor in facility fees, as well as associated costs like consultations, outpatient visits, medications and rehab. That means the estimates should be pretty close to what the patient will have to pay — at least when there aren’t any complications.
What are some easy ways to save?
They are many services that can include facility charges. These extra charges come into play when you see a doctor at a facility he or she doesn’t own, like a hospital-owned clinic. In many cases, patients can pay much less by seeing the same doctor, and having the same treatment, at a different facility. To reduce the cost of those visits, it’s important for employees to know if facility charges will apply, and whether they can be avoided. These tools can help with that.
Should employees be looking at lab costs, too?
They absolutely should. Many people have their lab work done at the hospital or clinic where they see their doctor. But they have a choice. If their health plan has a cost comparison tool, employees can see how much a standalone option, like an independent lab, will charge for tests they might need. Price differences can be significant.
For example, hospital-based labs sometimes charge up to 70 times more than an independent lab for a simple blood test. If a doctor has an agreement with the lab, the patient may not even have to go to a different facility. A lab technician can pick up the sample from the doctor’s office. They’ll do the test, submit the claim and share the results with the doctor.
What other information is important?
Cost is obviously important, but it’s definitely not the only factor. More people are looking through reviews and ratings to help them make informed medical decisions.
That’s why Medical Mutual’s cost comparison tool, for example, includes patient satisfaction scores and quality ratings for doctors and hospitals in its network. It also includes specific information about the doctors themselves, like how long they have been practicing, where they went to medical school and what languages they speak.
Insights Health Care is brought to you by Medical Mutual
