Yes, it’s OK to talk to your doctor about money

We know health care is expensive. And we know that many Americans don’t fill a prescription or they skip a recommended medical test because they can’t afford it.

However, Dylan Scott, who covers health care for Vox, says it’s OK for patients to talk with their doctors about money.

“The unavoidable reality is, we each have to be our own advocate,” Scott writes in a recent article.

When it comes to asking about cost, Scott acknowledges that many people fear being judged by their doctor. Guess what? When it comes to their own health care, Scott says doctors also share that fear.

“I have found health care billing in my own experience to be inconsistent and to be surprising and to be shrouded in a lot of mysteries,” said Dr. Cailly Howell-McLean, a Toledo, Ohio, pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Scott asked physicians and other experts for their best advice when it comes to talking about costs:

• When in doubt, ask. Maybe your doctor is also unsure of the answer but asking the question will give them the opportunity to steer you to someone who does.
• Ask your doctors direct questions while you’re in the room together. It’s OK to ask whether the recommended new treatment is expensive – or has risks.
• If your prescriptions are expensive ask if there’s a generic. Physicians typically write a prescription for a brand name but they can and will prescribe a generic that is just as effective.
• Seek an expert who can help. Manyproviders’ offices, hospitals and insurance plans have specialists who can help you unravel a confusing bill or situation. Just ask.

What about you? Have you saved on your health care costs because you asked questions? Share your tips, thoughts and stories with Voices for Affordable Health.