Your dwindling resources may seem like an insurmountable obstacle to obtaining the help you need. You may want to visit a professional who is covered by your insurance first if the person has a good reputation in your area and is experienced with symptoms like yours.
Don’t settle for second-rate care, even if you have to go to another town. It will cost you more in the end. The chapter titled “Secrets of Finding the Right Professional Unmasked,” from Unmasking a Diagnosis, contains tips on how to search for the right provider to meet your needs.
If you don’t have insurance and don’t think you can afford it, ask your state’s insurance commissioner if state-sponsored plans are available. You can find the contact number at LifeInsuranceHub.net.
What do you do if the professional you choose isn’t a member of your plan’s network or you don’t have insurance? What if your plan doesn’t cover “alternative” providers or therapies? Approach the provider anyway for the following reasons:
The provider may agree to join your insurance company’s network. Contact his or her billing office several weeks in advance to see if this is a possibility.
The provider may agree to work within your policy’s provisions without joining the network. For a problem that requires multiple visits, such as physical therapy, an out-of-network provider may agree to charge you only your regular co-pay amount and file the insurance claims so they go toward your deductible.
Uncovered expenses may be tax deductible. Special foods or nutrition services, if ordered by a licensed professional, can be claimed on your tax form if you itemize.
Uncovered expenses may be covered by a flexible savings account or medical savings account. Check with your plan to see if your situation qualifies and to find out what documentation you will need.
Some providers don’t accept insurance. Their services may be less expensive than those of covered physicians because they don’t have to pay for claims processing.
Some providers will accept installment payments. Discuss this possibility before making an appointment.
The provider may agree to charge you only a portion of the total and file the balance toward your deductible. Some office visits are expensive because they require numerous tests, and this option may work best for you and for them.
For more tips, see Part 2 of this post.
This post was updated 10/2/08.
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Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.
