We all want a good deal. There are certain things that we are willing to shop for because there is virtually no difference in the house brand, say paper products, and the name brand. The same is true with some procedures. There are many procedures that show a significant variability in price and very little variance in quality. These procedures are generally “shoppable.” All that really means is that you should feel comfortable inquiring about costs from a few different providers.
Many plans have a reference price or benefit maximum for certain elective procedures.
This type of reference can help you understand reasonable costs compared to excessive costs.
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Bone Density Scan
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Cardio Stress Test
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Carpal Tunnel
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Cataract Removal
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Colonoscopy – Diagnostic or Screening
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CT – Head or Brain
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Delivery – Vaginal
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Ear Tubes
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Echocardiogram
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Gallbladder Removal
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Hernia Repair – Laparoscopic or Reducible
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Hip Replacement
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Hysterectomy Laparoscopic
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Knee Arthroscopy or Replacement
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Laminotomy Lumbar
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Lithotripsy
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Mammogram – Diagnostic or Screening
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MRI – Brain, Lower Extremity, Lumbar Spine, Upper Extremity
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Pain injection – Lumbar Spine
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PET Scan - Skull
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Shoulder Arthroscopy
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Sleep Study or Sleep Study CPAP
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Tonsils and Adenoids Removal
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Ultrasound – Pelvic or Transvaginal
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Upper GI Endoscopy
Defining Success
Expecting? One Couple’s Success Story