Health care costs are rising everywhere and insurance premiums are following pace, many consumers have begun to take a close look at medical discount plans. For those who can’t get coverage or can’t afford it, such plans amount to ‘the next best thing. For the insured they hold the promise of reduced costs.

Honest sellers of medical discount plans are upfront about the fact that they’re not selling actual insurance. Many dishonest sellers deceive consumers with exaggerated marketing hype, obscure fine print, and calculated omission, leading them to believe that what they are buying is actually health insurance.

Medical discount plans are not health insurance. Unlike health insurance, discount plans dont pay your medical claims. They give you access to a list of health care providers who have agreed to discount their services. You’ll still have to pay the entire bill yourself. A good medical discount plan can help you save money on out-of-pocket expenses and can be a helpful tool to fight high health care costs. The wrong plan will only cost you more overall .

Before purchasing a medical discount plan:

*Ask to see a list of discount providers – if the company refuses, walk away

*Check with your the state department of insurance or the Better Business Bureau to see if there are consumer complaints against the company.

* What kind of complaints, and how were the they resolved?

* Very carefully read the fine print

*Verify that the company has a web site and a toll-free customer service number

*Investigate claims that seem exaggerated or sound too good to be true

* Do the math to see if the potential savings of a medical discount plan justify the cost to purchase it.

*Resist any high-pressure sales tactics, especially deadlines and limited-time offers

Medical discount plans can help fight the high cost of health care if you take a little time to find the right one.