10 Ways to Cut Medical Costs Hospital and med bills don't have to cost an arm and a leg. Lower your blood pressure with these tips from MSNBC. Copied (Index Stock (http://www.indexstock.com)) See 1 more photo Avoid financial injury by following these ten tips from MSNBC: Shop for tests. Different labs may vary widely in costs. Negotiate. Hospitals may waive or reduce a co-pay fee if the patient can prove that it's a hardship. Question the necessity of follow-up appointments, X-rays or MRIs. See if there's a cheaper version of your medication. Speak direct to your doctor about unmanageable bills. Do independent lab work through MyMedLab.com. Negotiate between doctors and insurance with a patient advocate. Fill prescriptions with big retailers. Split larger-dose versions of your pills. Try bartering—your labor for your doc's. Read These Next South Africa's weekend arrived with a grim start. Updated list of free days at national parks is raising some eyebrows. Radiation expert has interesting new theory on why plane plummeted. Harvard visiting professor leaves US after antisemitism allegation. See 1 more photo Report an error