FH® Total Treatment Cost
Summary
If you have an ongoing illness or need a complicated procedure, it’s a good idea to get an FH Total Treatment Cost estimate.
Ongoing, or chronic, illnesses, like type 2 diabetes, usually require many different medical services. Complicated procedures, like a knee replacement, also require many different services. The total costs of all the services you receive are estimated as the FH Total Treatment Cost. For complicated procedures, the period for the total costs runs from the time your symptoms start until all your treatments end. For chronic conditions, the total costs are those of the typical services for the condition over the course of one year.
The costs of the various services you need can add up. You can use the FAIR Health Medical Cost Lookup Tool to find out how much your entire FH Total Treatment Cost might run.
The results page for the procedure or condition you choose will show you two main results: out-of-network/uninsured and in-network prices. The out-of-network/uninsured price is an estimate of how much you'll have to pay if you don't have health insurance. It's also what you may have to pay—or a portion of what you may have to pay—if you have insurance but your healthcare providers don't take your insurance. The in-network price is an estimate of how much the services will cost if you have health insurance. That includes both your insurer's share of the cost and your share.
If you have health insurance, you can use your FH Total Treatment Cost estimate to help you budget and plan for your healthcare costs. This is especially important if you have a high-deductible health plan. If you're considering using out-of-network services, the estimate will help you understand the difference between your in-network and out-of-network share of costs. It can also help you to negotiate a price with out-of-network providers.
If you're uninsured, having an estimate will help you to negotiate a price with any healthcare providers for their services. It will also allow you to understand the potential benefits of coverage.
Your Action Plan: Estimating Total Treatment Costs
- Chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, and complicated procedures, like knee replacement, require multiple services. Together, these services can end up costing you a lot of money.
- Use the FAIR Health Medical Cost Lookup Tool to get an estimate of these costs.
- If you have health insurance, you can use the estimate to budget for expenses. It's especially important to get an estimate if you have a high-deductible health plan, because you'll have to pay the full costs of care until you meet the deductible.
- If you're uninsured or plan to use out-of-network providers, you can use the estimate to help you negotiate fees with your providers.