An annual census conducted by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) of U.S. health insurance companies shows that enrollment in health savings account/high-deductible health plans (HSA/HDHPs) totaled 17.4 million in January 2014.
The number of enrollees with HSA/HDHPs rose to nearly 17.4 million in January 2014, up from 15.5 million in January 2013, 13.5 million in January 2012 and 11.4 million in January 2011; an average annual growth rate of approximately 15 percent since 2011. On average, HSA/HDHP enrollment increased 16 percent from 2013 to 2014 for plans that participated in the census both years.
What this illustrates is that more and more consumers are bearing a larger share of expense when it comes to healthcare. In other words, before insurance benefits start to kick in, people with these types of plans (or any plan that has a deductible) has to “pay the freight.”
Thus, the reason for being active, vigilant consumers and taking the time, energy and focus to find out prices for services, and with your insurance information on hand, should have providers determine any cost that would be applied to your deductible. So, you know before you go.
However, many people have reported the frustration levels of trying to get that information from hospitals and health systems, citing numerous reasons for not getting information including confidentiality, computer problems, not knowing who the person is that provides pricing, etc. In other words, it’s the run-around.
At Diagnostic Imaging Services, we aim to provide you with the best information we can, given what a person can tell us. If we can be given the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code for the test(s) and the insurance information, our patient financial services associates can verify benefits and arrive at a good faith estimate of costs that would be applied to a deductible.
Time and time again, our cost estimates are far, far below area hospitals. The best part is consumers who chose DIS do not sacrifice quality for cost. What we do in medical imaging is at the same, if not better, quality levels of hospitals in southeast Louisiana. Combined with quieter, more relaxed center environments, it’s no wonder people choose Diagnostic Imaging Services.
After all, if you don’t have to go to the hospital, why would you want to? Click here to download the report.
And, say YES and spend LESS at DIS.