I am being referred out for a medical procedure and have a high deductible. A friend told me I should “shop around” and compare prices at different hospitals and stand-alone medical facilities. What is the best way for me to find out how much my insurance allows for the medical procedure at different locations?

In this day of high deductible plans, it is wise to shop around for quality care as prices may vary greatly from one location of services to another. The best way to find out the reimbursement rates in our area is to contact your insurance company for the most up-to-date prices. You can either log on your insurance carrier’s website and search via the web or call the member service phone number on the back of your insurance card, and a representative should be able to assist you. We have attached an example for Anthem members of procedure costs for colonoscopy, echocardiograms and mammograms. This document is from March 1, 2016, so the prices may have changed, but it gives you an idea of the differences in some of the local facilities. Generally getting a lower cost does mean some travel, so don’t forget to weigh this impact on your decision on where to go. Click here to download our Winchester Procedure Costs.