SOURCES: FABIOLA CARRIÓN, SENIOR ATTORNEY IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH LAW PROGRAM’S LOS
ANGELES OFFICES; KAREN POLLITZ
Call the office that sent you the bill and use this MD-approved script.Okay, so that sore throat you thought was fine actually requires a strep test
and (surprise!) you need a root canal. But for all the predictable stuff,
call the doctors in your network to find out how much they charge *before*
your visit. Practices that aren’t affiliated with a hospital are often cheaper.This gives the billing rep a
chance to catch any errors, so
listen up for things you didn’t ask
for or that didn’t happen. If they
find a mistake, they’ll send you a
new bill. If not, say...H i, my n a m e is , a n d I ’m c a l l i n g t o
d is c uss my b i l l f o r p r o c e d u r e/
test/visit. This bill caught me off guard.
Can you walk me through the charges?You might have to pay full price,
but spreading it out can make
yo u r W T F bill e a sie r t o h a n d l e.I f t his is a bill f ro m yo u r d e n t is t,
dermatologist, or another small
practice, they might work with
you on reducing the cost. If it’s a
hospital, they may not, so say...Thank you! Honestly, I’m worried I can’t
pay this right now, but I know I can
c ove r $. I s t h e r e a ny t hi n g yo u c a n
do for me?Would it be possible to set up a plan so I
can pay this bill gradually? I think I
c o u l d p a y $ p e r m o nt h.PRO TIP: PLAN AHEADNegotiate any doctor’s bill
SOURCES: DANIA PALANKER, KAREN POLLITZFor the love of Harry Styles, you need some
health insurance. But because terrible days do happen (e.g., you lost your job
and can’t afford COBRA at the moment), we gotchu.Stay healthy without coverage
CheckupsAt NACHC.org, you’ll find community
health centers that charge based on your
income. All sorts of doctors swing by these
health centers for people who need care.STI testingFYI, you can get tested for STIs at Planned
Parenthood or at community health clinics
(find one nearest you at GetTested.cdc.gov)
without insurance.Birth controlYou can get BC from community clinics at a
discounted rate or order it online for about
$20 a month via Planned Parenthood
Direct, The Pill Club, or PRJKT Ruby.Gyno visitsPlanned Parenthood provides free or
low-cost annual gyno exams
and other services for a price based on
how much money you make.CO
BRA WHO?
Thanks to the
Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act
(COBRA) of 1985, you
can stay on your current
health-care sitch after
leaving your job or
outgrowing your parents’
plan. But you’ll pay 100
percent of the cost.HOW TO DO HEALTH
INSURANCE IF...JW: Can my parents see that
I got an STI test last month?
Nah. If you’re over 18, your
medical records are for your
eyes only, no matter whose
coverage you’re on.W h e n w i l l t his m a g i c a l
phase of my life end?
Some plans let you stay till
the end of age 26, some
boot you off on your birth-
day. (HBD to you!) Call your
insurer to find out which of
these boats you’re in.Then what?
Got a job? You can sign up
for company insurance like
the Grown you are. Still in
school? See if your univer-
sity offers a plan, or head to
the insurance store for more
options. You’re also eligible
for COBRA.Yo u ’ r e o n
your parents’insurance
12
of you do not have
health insurance but wish
you did%
94 Cosmopolitan November 2019life