If your health insurance covers 80 percent of doctors' fees, that means your costs are 80 percent covered. Find out ahead of time how much your insurance company will pay for a procedure and tell your doctor you want to make sure his or her fee is covered by your insurance. Many physicians will agree not to charge more than that. Money-Smart Health Care Choices Don't repeat medical tests needlessly. If you change doctors or dentists, have your new practitioner get copies of your records.
Generics are almost always as safe and effective as name brands, but they are usually a lot cheaper.
Ask your doctor to prescribe generics when they're available. Consider buying prescription drugs from mail-order pharmacies. Mail-order firms often charge less than your local druggist. They can't fill prescriptions as quickly. But they're perfect for patients taking medication for long-term conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease.