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50+ ways you can save 
If a medical bill seems excessive, try negotiating
Your doctor or the office manager that handles billing will probably be flexible, provided you make a valid case. When one woman in Texas was charged $900 for surgery and "consultation," she explained that she had visited the hospital just once, for surgery; her bill was promptly cut by $70.
Contact a medical bill "auditor"
Several services have a medical bill "auditing" system that evaluates your medical bills to determine if errors occurred in the billing process. Considering that 97 percent of hospital medical bills contain errors, it's no wonder why out-of-pocket medical expenses are on the rise for consumers. Because the typical hospital bill is extremely complicated, often containing several hundred line-item charges, there is ample opportunity for computer mistakes and accidental human error. When an auditor finds these errors in your medical statement(s), they will collect the money owed to you. Perform a Google search for "medical bill auditors" to find companies offering this service.
You may get a tax break on your medical bills
Keep all your medical bills together and add them up at tax time. If they exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, you may deduct the excess. If, for example, your adjusted gross income is $20,000 and your medical bills equal $2,000, you may subtract up to $500 off your federal taxes ($20,000 x .075 = $1,500). Any amount above $1,500 may be deducted.
Please note that these items also may be included in the total: the cost of eye glasses, contact lenses, physical therapy, X-rays, hearing aids, psychiatric care, insurance and transportation to the hospital or doctor's office (at 10 cents a mile). There are phase-outs in some cases based on adjusted gross income. Check with your professional tax adviser for specifics.
Can I qualify for any other tax breaks?
The Earned Income Credit is a Federal tax credit for working families, with or without children, who meet certain income guidelines. Eligible families either pay less Federal income tax or get a larger tax refund. To qualify for tax year 2007: workers with no children must have earned income below $12,590; workers with one child must have an earned income below $33,241; and workers with two or more children must be below $37,783 in earned income. Please note: the limits are $2,000 higher in each category for those filing a joint tax return.
Claiming the EIC will not interfere with your eligibility for benefits such as TANF, Medicaid, SSI, food stamps, or subsidized housing assistance. Immigrants legally authorized to work may also claim the EIC. To find out if you qualify, complete an eligibility check.
Use ERs only for emergencies
Your daycare calls and explains your child is crying and complaining of earache pain. You call your family physician and she is already booked for the day, and the next appointment isn't available until tomorrow. You decide to choose between the hospital emergency room and one of the new no-appointment ambulatory care centers, or "emergi-centers," that many larger communities now have.
In most cases, it will be cheaper to go to the emergi-center. You will probably be charged a flat fee, based on the diagnosis. At the hospital emergency room, you might be billed twice, once by the hospital and once by the doctor. In any emergency, consider the distance you may have to travel for proper care. If the emergi-center is located 30 miles farther than your local hospital, the emergency room may make more sense.
Use home health care
You could save thousands of dollars by being able to recover at home, and increase your comfort dramatically. There are at least three basic kinds of home health care: subsidized homemaker services, Medicare-certified home health care and private home health care. Check your insurance policy to see which service you're covered under, based on different circumstances.
Shop around for health care
Hospital costs vary widely, especially between urban and rural facilities. If your doctor has admitting privileges at more than one hospital, find out if you can be admitted to the one that's less expensive. Keep in mind that hospitals operated by nonprofit foundations are usually less expensive than investor-owned, for-profit hospitals. To find out how much your local hospitals charge, ask your doctor or employer. Many states have Health Services Cost Review Commissions, which compile such data.
Federal funding may come your way
In the admission offices and emergency rooms of many American hospitals, a little sign reads, "NOTICE - Medical Care for Those Who Cannot Afford to Pay." This sign indicates that the hospital provides free or subsidized care for low-income families.
In 1946, the United States Congress distributed millions of dollars to hospitals and other health care facilities for expansion and modernization. In return, these hospitals agreed to provide a "reasonable volume" of free services. This is known as the Hill-Burton Program.
To receive care under Hill-Burton, you must file an application at a participating hospital and present proof of your income. Families earning below the federal poverty line automatically qualify for free care, but some hospitals also provide subsidized care for families earning up to twice the poverty level. Not all hospitals, however, participate in Hill-Burton, and not all services are covered. The program only pays hospital bills, not doctor bills. If you have other forms of health insurance, you may be ineligible. For more information and a list of participating hospitals in your area, call 800-638-0742.
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