NYSUT members are frustrated with the increasing cost of health care premiums, co-pays and deductibles. How can being a more educated consumer change this?
1. Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield estimates that upstate New Yorkers could save more than $700 million each year if they used the generic alternatives of 35 brand-name prescriptions expected to be available this year. According to Excellus, the retail cost for a three-day supply of Plavix®is about $230; a generic version may cost about $10.
2. The cost for a service may vary significantly depending on where the service is rendered. According to MVP Health Plan, for example, radiology and laboratory tests performed at an outpatient department of a hospital can be three to four times more costly than if performed in a physician's office or free-standing facility. Also, some plans enforce a higher co-pay for treatment at a hospital.
It is not always easy or practical to seek alternatives, but members are encouraged to contact their health insurer and ask their physicians about medical care options.
— Susan Klug