IT MAKES $ENSE TO COMPARE
Medical Cost Tools
www.preferredone.com
Use PreferredOne’s online Medical Cost Tools to get the most value from your benefit dollars. Visit www.preferredone.com, login as a member and check out the Medical Cost Tools section.
COMPARISON SHOPPING – DIFFERENT CLINICS, DIFFERENT COSTS It seems only natural to ask what something costs before you buy it. But with health care we rarely do.
Did you know that different clinics charge different rates for the same treatment? These costs are passed on to you and your employer. When selecting a clinic, ask about costs and compare your options before scheduling an appointment or go to www.preferredone.com, register/login as a member and check the Medical Cost Tools section.
Compare and Save Episode Treatment Group
Clinic A
Health Screening Exam
$194
Clinic Clinic B C $196
$226
Sore Throat
$115
$137
$218
Preventive Immunizations
$145
$154
$182
Earache
$133
$162
$170
Back Sprain
$288
$303
$518
Bladder Infection
$100
Migrane
$760
$119
$169
$1,306
$1,481
Note: Cost data is for care per episode treatment group. This is aggregated average information and is intended for informational purposes only. Actual individual costs for treatment of, or procedures for, the listed episode treatment group may vary.
WHERE DO I GO FOR MEDICAL CARE – CLINIC, URGENT CARE OR ER? Everyone knows that if you have a life-threatening condition, the emergency room is the place to go. But what about conditions like flu, a sore throat, cuts or sprains? Do you make an appointment and wait for an office visit? Visit a facility that offers more immediate care? Where you go has an impact on getting the most appropriate care and the cost of that care — costs that are passed on to you and your employer. YOU HAVE OPTIONS: n Call Your Clinic – If your clinic is open, they can provide the best advice on the level of care you need — scheduling an appointment or recommending urgent care or an emergency room. n Urgent Care – Generally, provides after-hours and some weekend care for conditions that are not lifethreatening and require more immediate attention.
Compare and Save Condition
Office Visit
Urgent Care
Emergency Room
Strep Throat
$112
$135
$523
Ear Infection
$108
$130
$455
Ankle Sprain
$116
$139
$375
Note: Facility costs do not include Rx, lab & X-ray. This is aggregated average information and is intended for informational purposes only. Actual individual costs for treatment of, or procedures for, the listed episode treatment group may vary. Convenience Care Clinics may provide treatment for common illnesses such as allergies, ear/sinus infections, pink eye & styes and bronchitis at reduced costs.
n Emergency Rooms – For life-threatening conditions that require immediate emergency care.
IMAGING: MRI, CT & PET/CT SCANS - WHERE DO I GO FOR SERVICES? PreferredOne maintains a high level of quality imaging providers while managing costs. Simply put, this means the right medical imaging procedure, at the right time, done safely and with accurate results. Tips for being a proactive health care consumer for imaging services: n Ask for a good faith estimate of the procedure you are having done. n In general, a free standing imaging provider will be 30-50% less expensive than a hospital-based provider. n Minnesota law requires that all imaging providers have available estimated reimbursement levels for their top 50 procedures (the amount they expect to receive for the procedure). n Go to www.preferredone.com, register/login as a member and select Imaging Providers in the Medical Cost Tools section to view provider cost comparisons.
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Compare Prescription Costs and $ave
Medical Cost Tools
GENERICS vs. BRANDS GENERIC MEDICATIONS CAN SAVE YOU 40% OR MORE OVER BRAND NAME DRUGS.
Compare and Save Rx Treatment
Did you know that generic medications are required to have the same active ingredient and medical effect as a brand name drug? Almost every drug class has one or more generically available medications in it and can save 40% or more over the brand name drug. The next time you get a prescription, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is a generic available.
Brand Rx
Generic Rx
Ulcers, Reflux & Stomach Problems
Prilosec $162
omeprazole $17
High Cholesterol
Mevacor $71
lovastatin $15
High Blood Pressure
Zestril $45
lisinopril $13
Antibiotics – 10 day supply – 250mg
Biaxin $56
clarithromycin $11
Note: Unless otherwise noted, pricing is based on a one month supply of 20mg strength when a PreferredOne ID card is used to fill prescriptions. This information is intended for informational purposes only. Actual cost for prescribed medications may vary.
OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) vs. PRESCRIPTION Did you know that many prescription products have similar Over-the-Counter (OTC) alternatives available? Bypassing your prescription drug benefit and purchasing OTC products can result in savings for you and your employer. The next time you get a prescription, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is an OTC alternative available.
Compare and Save Rx Treatment
Prescription Drug Prescription Name & Strength Drug Cost*
Ulcers, Reflux & Stomach Problems
Aciphex 20mg Iansoprazole 15mg
$186 $89
Nexium 20mg omeprazole 20mg
$168 $17
Prevacid 15mg Prilosec 20mg Protonix 20mg pantoprazole 20mg
$155 $162 $136 $87
(generic for Prevacid)
(generic for Prilosec)
(generic for Protonix)
Dexilant Non-Sedating Antihistamines, Allergy
OTC Alternatives
OTC Cost^
omeprazole OTC 20mg 28 count box
$22
Prevacid OTC Zegerid OTC
$26 $26
(generic for Prilosec)
___
Clarinex 5mg
$116
loratidine 10mg - 30 count box
$8
Xyzal 5mg
$89
cetirizine 10mg - 30 count box
$11
fexofenadine 60mg
$22
fexofenadine-pseudophedrine 60-120 mg
$35
loratidine-pseudophedrine 24 hour 3-10 count boxes (generic for Claritin-D)
$63
Zyrtec-D 12 hour 24 count box
$19
(generic for Claritin) (generic for Zyrtec)
(generic for Allegra)
Non-Sedating Antihistamine/ Decongestants, Allergy
Clarinex-D 12 Hour Clarinex-D 24 Hour
$160 $125
(generic for Allegra D)
* Note: Prescription drug costs are based on a one month supply when a PreferredOne ID card is used to fill prescriptions. Actual costs for prescribed medications may vary. ^ The Over-the-Counter product could be less expensive to you if your benefit plan provides coverage for Over-the-Counter products. This information is intended for informational purposes only.
Questions? Please call Customer Service at 763.847.4477 or 800.997.1750.
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