Instead of sitting  back and waiting for the government, providers and insurers to publish meaningful price data to help consumers make informed decisions about value, we developed a solution that can help consumers today.  In July, we launched an early release of www.OutofPocket.com, a platform for collecting and sharing price information for routine health care services.  This online resource, OutofPocket.com, enables consumers to share price information that can help others find the best value.  Our objective was to collect early feedback, build awareness for the new website, and enable people to start sharing price information to help others find the best value.  While the website is still evolving, we strongly believe that launching OutofPocket is better than doing nothing.   OutofPocket is available today for consumers to start collecting and sharing true prices for health care services.

To everyone that sent us comments - thank you for taking the time to review our website and send us your feedback.  We consider your feedback a gift. 

Over the next couple of months we will be working on the next release of the website.  Our #1 goal is when you search on OutofPocket.com, you will always have relevant content returned in the search results.

Some of the features we are working on include

1. enhance the wizard to make it easier for you to post you visits/prices/recommendations

2. allow users to rate search results and add their recommendations to a provider already in the directory

3. invite providers that disclose pricing to include their services/prices in the directory

4. include additional Government CMS Medicare payment data

5. improve the dislay of search results to identify consumer-generated-content, provider price list, and Medicare data.

We invite you to continue adding your visits and price information to the directory.  If enough people participate to share prices, consumers will have created a very powerful pricing directory.  Thank you for all that you do to help make this grassroots initiative successful. 

This past summer when my kids went to the Pediatrician for their routine checkups I saved hundreds of dollars -- $475 to be exact!  When the doctor mentioned that my kids were due for vaccinations I said “no thanks”.  Instead, I asked the doctor to write down the scheduled vaccinations.  I informed the doctor that we were going to the Village to receive our vaccinations for $5 each.  The doctor was happy to accommodate my request.  In fact, I think the doctor’s office knew all about this cost savings program but never mentioned it me.  I never knew about this program until just recently, so I never asked.  

The Village of Arlington Heights, offers $5 vaccinations on the third Monday of every month to families that are uninsured or under-insured (where your health plan does not cover vaccinations).  The vaccinations are administered by professionals in a very clean environment and held at the recently remodeled Senior Center conveniently located near my home.  We only had to wait 5 minutes to fill out some forms.  Many other villages and the county offer these low-cost or free vaccinations for children and full-time students.  Definitely worth checking out if your health insurance does not cover vaccinations or if you are uninsured.     

As more costs are being passed on to the consumer, it has become even more important for consumers to understand and compare prices of health care services before receiving treatment.  Here is some advice that can save you real money.

Negotiate

Dr. Kathryn Stewart, Medical Director of Care Management at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, believes patients should be more proactive about seeking the best prices for services.  In fact, Dr. Stewart suggests patients negotiate a payment arrangement with the provider before they have the service performed.  Dr. Stewart advises, “Patients can always negotiate the price before or after the service is received.  Don't just accept at face value to pay what the provider is charging.  Most hospitals would be glad to give a deep discount (up to 50% or more) if patients pay at the time of service. The discount is less if patients drag payments out over a long period.   Keep in mind that charges and payments have almost no relationship to each other and charges are a pie in the sky number that no one pays except for the self-pay patient, and that is only if they are not smart enough to negotiate a lower payment for themselves. Most important - after you have received the service you are not in a good negotiating position.  However, before you receive the service, you are in a better position to negotiate the price.”

Ask for the Medicare Rate

If you are uninsured, you really need to negotiate a better price.  Ask the provider what Medicare would reimburse them for this procedure.  Start with this price and see where you end up. 

Good luck.