You can also ask your doctor what a treatment or procedure is likely to cost, as well as call local providers to see how their prices compare. Most major insurers offer online tools that show how much you might owe for common procedures and doctor visits based on your deductible status and plan features. To check prices in your area, start with your health plan website.

She was referred to a lab that charged just $270. When the test needed to be repeated, Neely, 45 and a stay-at-home mom, asked a clerk at the doctor’s office what to do. That’s what Marcy Neely of Cedar Lake, Ind., discovered after she was charged more than $1,500 for a blood test at a local hospital. That said, it may not be easy to find out prices, but it’s worth a try because the cost difference can be huge. In the Consumer Reports survey, only 4 out of 10 people tried to find out before an office visit what the cost would be. It’s easier to avoid billing surprises if you can determine your charges in advance. That will at least give you a basis for disputing bills later if you are charged out-of-network fees. Smart move: If you’re being admitted to a hospital and asked to sign a document of financial responsibility, write in that you agree only if your care is in network, says Elisabeth Rosenthal, M.D., author of “An American Sickness” (Penguin Books, 2018) and editor-in-chief of Kaiser Health News. With an out-of-network provider, you could be charged more because your visit will be reimbursed by the insurer at a lower rate than with an in-network provider. Also check to see which hospitals in the area take your insurance. Call the doctor’s office and provide your plan name and group number to confirm that the doctor is in your network. Don’t rely on the plan’s directory, because those listings could be out of date. The best way to avoid billing shocks is to make sure your providers are in your network, McClanahan says. You’ll learn what your plan does and doesn’t cover, as well as the limits for treatments-that you’re allowed up to 20 physical therapy visits a year, for example. Smart move: Grab a cup of coffee and read your health plan document, typically available on your insurer’s or employer’s benefits website. “Many people don’t let their doctor know if they’ve changed jobs or received a new card, or if there’s a secondary payer,” says Cindi Gatton, a private patient advocate in Atlanta. Make sure your provider has correct insurance information entered in its system. It’s complicated,” says Martha Bradt, a health claims advocate in Rye, N.Y. “People think they know what plan they have, but they often don’t. Many billing problems start because people don’t understand the basics of their insurance, including deductibles, coverage limits, and the network of providers.

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