How to save thousands on your health care

6. Arrange independent lab work
Cut the cost of blood and urine analyses by using MyMedLab.com. Once your doctor gives you a prescription for a test, have blood drawn at one of 3,000 collection sites nationwide; the vials are then mailed to independent labs. "You can get more than 30 blood readings and analyses starting at about $95 — around 75% less than getting the same tests at a hospital," says Herrick. The lab will mail the results to both you and your doctor. (State laws prohibit this service in California, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island, according to the site.)

Save: 50 to 80%

Caveat: "Ask your doctor to confirm the reliability of an 'outside' lab's performance before using it," says Kassirer.

7. Hire an advocate
The gap between what an out-of-network doctor charges for a procedure and what your insurance will pay can often be considerable, and it's usually your responsibility to make up the difference. The result: a three-way dispute. Patient-advocate services are skilled at resolving such conflicts. Philadelphia-based Healthcare Advocates Inc. charges from $50 to $400 per case — about $300 on average.

Save: Varies widely

Caveat: "Ask a representative if he's had success with your particular type of dispute," advises Kassirer. "With some claims, insurance companies never back down."

Visit prevention.com/advocate to learn how a patient advocate can help you save money.

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8. Fill prescriptions with big retailers
Mail-order pharmacies such as Drugstore.com, Drugs.com, and Costco.com typically beat the prices of neighborhood drugstores hands down. You can do your own price comparisons at Rxaminer.com, which was founded by a cardiologist and has the reputation for independence from special interest groups.

Save: 10 to 20% for name brands, 20 to 40% for generics

9. Split pills
Most drugs are not priced according to strength, points out Fred Brock, a Kansas State University journalism professor and author of "Health Care on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Getting Affordable Coverage." Some popular cholesterol drugs come in at least three strengths — why not split the 40 mg pill in half if you only need 20 mg per dose, and have the prescription last twice as long? Some pharmacy benefit managers will even give pill splitters to customers at no cost.

Save: Up to 50%

E-shop for the best plans It is possible to price-shop for health insurance: Both ehealthinsurance.com and vimo.com offer simple price and coverage comparisons among policies in each state. But never sign up for an insurance plan online. Always talk with a representative before buying, advises Michelle Katz, author of "Healthcare for Less." "Get their names and numbers so you can go back to them if you have any questions about the information you've seen on the Internet." Prevention

Caveat: Splitting pills may not always provide the optimal dose of the drug, so check with your doctor first.

10. Try bartering
"I've had electricians, plumbers, caterers, gardeners, and decorators offer services in exchange for health care," says Farrago. "If I had a solo practice, I'd do it in a second — though I'm blown away by electricians charging more than I do!"

Save: Varies widely

Caveat: None — "as long as you do a good job for the doctor!" says Kassirer.

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