Healthcare can be very expensive even when you have insurance. In a developing healthcare system like Vietnam, treatment cost varies and is not transparent. However you can save money on medical care without harming your health. Follow these tips to

trim your health care expenses by hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars:

Read your bills

Around 80% medical bills have errors, according to Medical Billing Advocates of America, and those mistakes can cost you. It can be something as simple as the wrong billing code, wrong account number or incomplete information. You should keep an eye to check these bills before payment. Don’t be afraid to call your doctor or the hospital billing department to clarify and be persistent.

Ask questions

“Most diagnoses can be determined by doctors listening and getting a good patient history and then a physical exam. The testing is helpful if the diagnosis isn’t clear, and more than one possibility remains.” – According to Mr. Davis Liu MD, the author of The Thrifty Patient: Vital Insider Tips for Saving Money and Staying Healthy. It’s not always easy to ask your doctor the question: “Is this test really necessary?” or “Why should I take this test?” But the best way to save money if a doctor recommend some tests is to ask.

Compare prices

With the rising cost of health care, you should shop around for your medical care and lab services. You can find out what the prices are before you schedule an appointment among the private hospitals/clinics. There will be also two price levels between patients who are covered by health insurance and others not covered, but contrast to your thoughts, in Vietnam you will be

Kick your bad habits

Obviously prevention really is the best way for your health and your wallet. Give up smoking, tanning or junk-food habits can save not only hundreds of dollars each year but also doctor bills in the long run. Eating healthy, doing exercise daily, and do medical check-up annually can do a long way toward saving money, reduce stress and living better.

charged higher when you say you have a coverage card. You really need to be careful not to be overcharged.

Consultation

Cost of Diagnostic Tests

Doctor $15 - $95Follow-up $15 - $65After hours $30 - $105Home visit $30 - $145

Chest X-ray $10 - $50

Ultrasound $16 - $65

Full Blood count $10 - $35

CT scan $125 - $350

MRI $125 - $450

Reference Costs in Private hospitals in Vietnam

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How to save money on your health care in Vietnam

Know your policy’s rules

Having health insurance is also one of the best effective ways to reduce health care cost. However do you really know your insurance coverage? Each plan has different benefits and explanations from the insurance company. You should see the price that the insurance is willing to pay for the procedure. Terms and conditions states the exclusions which are not covered. This will help you choose the suitable treatment services depending on the limited budget.

Consider High Deductible Plan

One of the costliest mistakes you can make is to buy a policy with inadequate coverage. These plans may be attractive because of the low premium, but the maximum benefit is low as well. When the accident or major illness happens, it could be tens or hundreds of thousand dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.

A better way to lower your premiums is to buy a high deductible policy with a higher maximum benefit per illness/ disease. Actually it will be easier to borrow from US$ 1,000 to US$5,000 from friends and family to pay for the bills which is limited by the deductible or excess than pay a large hospital bill because your insurance plan is too small to cover the costs of major treatment at an international hospital.

Monitor your insurance claims & bills

There are a lot of mistakes made when it comes to insurance claims and the insurance company can deny coverage on your bills. Don’t throw away the papers, bills, and especially VAT invoices when you do treatments in Vietnam. You should consider tip 1, 2, and 3 to monitor your insurance claims and bills. Last but not least importance is that a high claim ratio can affect to the premium of the next renewal policy.

Toll free: 1800 577 770

inquiry@bluecross.com.vn

If you need consulting regarding your medical insurance or want a comparison of your existing plan, don’t hesitate to contact our team - Blue Cross Vietnam. We are the strength behind your insurance in Vietnam.

BLUE CROSS VIETNAMAddress: 8th Floor, River View Tower | 7A Thai Van Lung street | District 1 | HCMC | Vietnam Tel: (+84 8) 3821 9908 | Fax: (+84 8) 3821 9847 | Website: www.bluecross.com.vn

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