Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009...2:00 am
They Helped Me Save Money, and I'm Shocked!
I about fell off my chair today when, twice in one day, someone at a doctor’s office suggested ways I could save money. I’m not talking about slipping me a handful of drug samples to save me the prescription co-pay. I’m talking services that I was ready to whip out my checkbook to pay for, but the person I was dealing with convinced me that I would be wasting my money if I did.
Situation #1: I had decided to switch my daughters to the “grown up” dentist my husband and I use. Not only are they old enough not to need the pediatric dentist anymore, but said pediatric dentist is a 35-minute drive away. The grown-up dentist? Within walking distance of our house.
Like with most instances when you “switch” doctors, I called about getting files forwarded, and I knew I’d have to pay for the pediatric dentist to do that. Turns out, it was $10 per kid per chart. It also turns out that the person I spoke with at the pediatric dentist convinced me that I didn’t need to spend the money. She said that the money mostly covered the copying of x-rays, but because my kids were both in braces and due for x-rays anyway (once the braces came off), the x-rays I would be paying to copy would be out of date anyway. (I called the new dentist to ask about this and she concurred.) So even though it would have been easiest for the pediatric dentist to take my credit card number and charge me the $20, she helped me to save money instead.
Situation #2: My oldest daughter has been complaining, once again, that she can’t see the board in school. I knew she probably needed a new prescription in her glasses, and after today’s eye appointment, I found out I was right. In anticipation of this happening, I had Jane bring with her the “back up” pair of glasses she owns. My plan was to get new lenses in her everyday glasses, and have her wear the back-up pair until we got the other pair back, and then send the back-up pair in for new lenses. This is usually what I do with my own glasses, though with three pairs of back-up frames, that can get costly. (Truth is I haven’t updated the prescription in those glasses in a number of years.)
As we were filling out the paperwork for the new lenses for both pairs of glasses–and watching the price tag soar past the $200 mark–the optician asked, “Why are you going to pay hundreds of dollars for lenses for a pair of glasses that are just going to sit in a drawer? If I were you, I’d get the new lenses in her everyday glasses and just keep the back-up as is.” So simple yet so brilliant. Sure, we’ll be in a pickle if her everyday glasses break, but you know what? I’ll deal with that problem when it becomes a problem. In the meantime, the optician helped me not to spend $200 today. And for that I’m very grateful.
Are you finding that service providers, medical or otherwise, are sharing money-saving tips with you like these people did with me? Wondering if this is a new recessionary trend….
Yes, At Kaiser, I am always figuring out how to save money. Sometimes I figure it out and sometimes they do. Mostly I do the figuring, since I have been going there for 28 years. They have some new procedures that save everyone money. The fees keep going up, so I wonder what things would cost if nobody used there organizing skills and thought a little!!!! I keep my old glasses as my back up pair and never think about paying for a backup pair. I can not remember when I have had to use the back up pair, except when I am waiting for the new prescription to be filled. I like to try to use the old frame for new lenses as well. Kaiser helped me with an extra credit this last time, which paid for the new frames. I got a credit since I never got new glasses after cateract surgery on the right eye. It is a one time credit. Then every other year Medicare Advantage gets a credit toward frames. I ended up paying for the lenses, which were less this time than my loyal Costco optician. Nice new frames from China, so they were in fashion but inexpensive. Kaiser will work with you until they fit and feel right. I have been in 2 times. I think this time they have it right. They put in a new nose pincher to keep the glasses up high enough to see out the correct place in the graduation. There are so many things to adjust, that you have to have an optician who will work with you until they are right. Good that they are thinking about you at your place. This is a place that I am always vigilant about spending money needlessly. One has to know the system and have some experience with the medical practioner. Dentist, opticians, hearing and other specialists are hard to learn about. Cheers! Gail
Wow, this is good to know, Gail. Thanks.
Have you been to Zenni Optical http://www.zennioptical.com/cart/home.php for glasses? Last spring I ordered glasses for my 16 yo dd from there. We simply took the prescription from the eye exam and followed the directions at the site. In about 2 weeks her glasses arrived and we couldn’t be happier. Her glasses, including frame and lenses, was well under $50. She even got a sun clip made for the frame.
Never heard of Zenni but I’ll check them out. Thanks.
Leah
A friend of ours saves lots of money by buying his glasses online BUT, they are always crooked and sliding off his face because they aren’t fitted. And he complains that his bi-focals don’t work well. I’m thinking the fitting of glasses is important in making them work correctly which might be a problem with online services. My two cents….
When I get a new prescription and glasses, I take in the old pair and have the lenses tinted to have prescription sunglasses that are “almost” the same prescription as the new ones, and suitable for outdoor work as well as driving. If there had been a huge change in my vision, it wouldn’t be wise to use them for driving, but for yardwork, they are fine. I believe it cost me about $20 last time to have them tinted dark. Sometimes if there is a coating, there is an extra charge to remove that first.
These are important considerations. I have an astigmatism so the “angle” of the lens has to be just so for me to see well. I’ve found that going the cheap route with my glasses always ends up taking twice as long. So I pay a bit more for my lenses so I can work with people who know how to fit me properly.
Great idea on the tinted lenses!
So many people are trying to save money in these tough times and lots of “water cooler” conversations turned from gossip into money saving tips. It is nice to see that some service people are starting to look out for the consumers since somewhere else they are the consumer and are probably pinching pennies as well right now.
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