Know your health care costs

One of the biggest questions you might have when seeking medical care is, “How much is this going to cost?”

The best way to find out what your medical care is going to cost is to request an estimate before your appointment. There are a few ways to do that.

MyPrevea offers estimates for new and existing patients, and you can request one here. Be prepared to select which location you would want to visit and if you have insurance.
A second way to get an estimate is to fill out this form. Prevea’s goal is for a financial services representative to get back to you with an estimate within two hours.
If you want to call and set up an appointment, you can ask for an estimate at that time. You’ll be asked if you have insurance and if you are a new or existing patient, as both come with different costs.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. Learn more

Factors that impact your costs

There are several factors that can impact what you’ll pay.

First and foremost, the symptoms you have. A person coming in with a sore throat will likely have different examinations and tests than someone coming in with chest pain or shortness of breath. As a result, different costs can occur.
Each patient who comes into the doctor is assigned a “level” based on how many symptoms they have, the severity of the symptoms and their health history. If a patient has chronic health issues, that will likely add to the complexity of the treatment, which can impact the cost of care.
In some cases, in addition to seeing your physician or provider, it will also be recommended that you have lab work, an X-ray or other imaging done. X-rays can cost a few hundred dollars each.

Insurance

Insurance can help reduce the cost of receiving care. If you have insurance, the best first step is to reach out to your insurance company to learn more about which clinics or hospitals are in network.

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What if I have to go to the emergency room?

If you need to go directly to the emergency room, the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) has a website dedicated to helping you find an estimate of what medical treatment may cost you. Like setting up an appointment at a clinic, you will be designated to a certain “level” based on your symptoms and health history.

Why did I get more than one bill?

When your bill arrives, you may receive more than one bill from different organizations. For example, if you are treated at a Prevea health center, you will receive a bill from Prevea. If labs are drawn, you may receive a bill from the company that processed the labs. The same goes for X-rays or other imaging. Learn more

Getting care

Now it’s time to seek care, and you may have more questions. For instance, what type of care is available? Do I need to physically go in and see a doctor? Thankfully, Prevea Health has options to help you navigate your care and get you the care you need, when you need it.

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