You can lower costs of prescriptions, medical bills

These days, so much in the world of health care is uncertain. Unfortunately, one thing everyone can count on is paying for medical expenses that your insurance won't cover.

According to a recent study, out-of-pocket medical expenses for adults with employer-sponsored health coverage jumped 34 percent between 2004 and 2007, from $545 to $729. Fortunately, there are things you can do to trim your medical bills while we wait to see what the future holds for health care.

Save on prescriptions: Next time you're at the doctor, ask for a sample of the medication he or she's prescribing before you get the full prescription filled. "Typically, you'll receive one or two weeks of med ication . . . that's anywhere from $15 to $150 in savings," says Dian Luffman of change:healthcare (http://www.changehealt hcare.com/).

You can save by going the generic route. For example, according to Luffman, a one-month prescription of Ambien can cost you as much as $103 to $264 a month. Go for the generic brand, and the price drops to $29 to $58 a month.

Getting your meds by mail also can help lessen the burden.

"In many cases, you can purchase a 90-day supply via mail order for the same price as 30 days from a retail pharmacy," Luffman says.

Request a lower bill: Sometimes getting a lower medical bill is as easy as asking. You may be under the impression that asking your doctor to work with you on price, much as the way you'd ask a contractor or car salesperson, is an etiquette no-no. It's perfectly OK.

"Hospitals and facilities want to receive payment for their services quickly, so try negotiating," Luffman says. Call the billing office and mention that you're having trouble paying the full amount. Then ask if you can get a discount for prompt payment. You can also make them an offer or ask to set up a payment plan. And as for your doctor, simply pose the question in a reasonable way: "Is there any way to cut my out-of-pocket cost?"

Think outside the hospital: "If you're having a service provided inside a hospital, like physical therapy, X-ray or radiology, it's going to be more expensive there," says Robert Hendrick of change:healthcare and co-author of "My Healthcare is Killing Me."

Quantity vs. quality: Fewer visits to the doctor mean fewer medical bills. Before you visit a doctor, hospital or physician, check out their complication and mortality rate with Healthgrades.com. Go to a hospital with low rates, and the odds that you'll be paying for complications down the road decrease.

Get healthy: Prevention pays! For many people, getting and staying healthy can greatly reduce medical costs. Virgin HealthMiles (http://www.virginhealthmiles.com), founded by entrepreneur Richard Branson, is one such program that offers incentives to move toward a healthier lifestyle. Adopting these changes can make you money and reduce your health-care costs.

Shelley Hodelka, a participant in the program, has lost weight, seen her asthma condition improved and, as a result, is paying less when it comes to medical bills.

"I saved at least $1,200 a year on the premiums for my health insurance. Since losing weight, I went to a plan with an $800 deductible instead of a $300 deductible," Hodelka says. Hodelka also saves on her prescriptions by participating in the program.

Jean Chatzky is an editor-at-large at Money magazine and serves as AOL's official Money Coach. She is the personal finance editor for NBC's "Today" show. Her Web site is http://www.jeanchatzky.com.

With reporting by Sarah Compo