If you have health insurance or not, these tips can help lower medical bills

Discussing financial concerns during a medical visit can lead to cost-saving options. 
(National Cancer Institute photo, Unsplash)

Over the past five years, insurance premiums, deductibles, co-insurance and drug costs have all surged, leaving many Americans with medical debt or choosing to forego needed treatment or medication because it's too expensive. 

But there's a healthier approach to medical treatment that can lead to substantial cost savings -- talking to your doctor about your costs and the need to seek budget-friendly options whenever possible, write professors Helen Colby and Deidre Popovich for The Conversation.

"Why don’t more people have conversations about cost? One study shows that cost conversations occur in only about 30% of medical visits," Colby and Popovich explain. Talking to your doctor about costs "can be crucial when a recommended procedure has multiple alternatives. . . . Speaking up about price can help patients stay healthier and avoid the all-too-common trade-off between medical care and household expenses."

Instead of delaying treatment or going through with a treatment and then worrying about its cost when the bill arrives, Colby and Popovich suggest ways to ask your medical provider for help and flexibility to lower costs. 

Ask for a generic drug or an alternative medicine if no generic is available. They write, "Research on physician–patient cost conversations shows that switching to lower-cost, clinically similar alternatives within the same drug class is a common strategy for reducing out-of-pocket spending without compromising care." 

Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether any manufacturer coupons or co-pay assistance programs are available. Sometimes, being willing to have your medicine shipped by mail can also save money.

Seek out information about hospital programs or charity options that help cover costs. While some aid options may be linked to Medicaid programs, many are administered by state and county groups. "Patients can often find these programs through hospital or health system websites, which typically include financial assistance or 'charity care' pages," Colby and Popovich add. "Nonprofit organizations and patient advocacy groups may also offer or list assistance tailored to specific conditions or medications."

Don't be afraid to ask, "What will this cost me, and are there other options?" they advise. "This question also opens the door to alternatives. . . . A brief, honest conversation about cost can lead to more affordable and more sustainable care."