How to tame medical consultation fees

If you are keen on your health, it’s very likely you consult every now and again for various reasons. It may be with your regular gynecologist, or a family physician. Does it ever bother you sometimes that consultation charges can spiral out of control? At first glimpse, it may not seem relevant if you are paying a few thousands on staggered consultation visits.

But it can all quickly add up if the visits and the charges go unchecked. Initial consultations can quickly be followed up by review visits, returns for results, and more visits which may or may not be related to the primary reason for the initial consultation.

Regardless of your medical insurance status, cumulative consultation charges can easily add up to huge amounts..

Does a standard consultation fee exist? The medical board gives guidelines on standard medical charges. But these remain as guidelines, and are hardly enforceable. Different health facilities and private consultants use various parameters to come up with their respective charges for consultations.

Market dynamics, scope of services rendered, location and many other factors all play a role in setting a consultation fee. The range of the amount payable is as varied as the spectrum of women’s healthcare providers available in your locality.

Your interest in consultation charges should be guided by the quality of care you are seeking. There are no fast rules in how you go about setting a ceiling for how much you are willing to pay.

The most expensive gynecologist is not necessarily the most qualified to provide the kind of care you need. Neither is the cheapest one the most desirable to see, you may not be saving anything in the long run. Do a bit of homework, aiming to balance cost with access, quality and the overall reputation of your chosen healthcare provider.

If you can afford to pay for services wherever you want to go, no problems at all. If your capabilities are however limited, you still aren’t completely excluded from visiting any healthcare providers that you may desire. Walk in confidently and say you cannot afford their prevailing consultation fees. Are they willing to accept your custom with a lesser fee?

Check if subsequent visits can be discounted, saving you money along the way. Some providers will have social responsibility funds that can be accessed to offer free services for the deserving. You never know till you ask.

If you keep your wits about you, you can amass lots of savings from consultation charges. Consult the most cost-effective healthcare providers. Avoid unnecessary physical visits that usually attract consultation fees. Electronic follow-ups with emails, phone or even skype cost much less. Ask for a waiver occasionally if needing too many reviews with your consultant. You can still get the best of healthcare without necessarily breaking your bank.