If You Don't Ask, the Answer Will Always Be No | OPEN Forum

A great article from Jean Chatzky (@jeanchatzky) on the OPEN Forum.

Chances are, your healthcare costs have been headed in one direction over the last few years. That would be up. Whether we’re talking about insurance premiums (up 41 percent since 2003 according to research by The Commonwealth Fund), deductibles (up 77 percent), prescriptions or copays, the answer to how much of a share of your monthly nut is eaten up by healthcare is more, often much more.

So what can you do about it?

How about negotiating? Actually asking for a better deal from your doctor, your local hospital, from any provider of medical services. I know, you were likely raised to believe this is heresy. Doctors are to be respected. Questioning them about the treatment they recommend is hard enough (that’s why so many second-opinion getters continue to do so quietly) but questioning them about whether they could see you for less? It sounds like a complete and total no-no. It’s not…