1. Medical Bills

Getting first-rate medical care doesn't have to mean paying full price. Doctors, labs and other medical providers are often willing to negotiate, with both uninsured patients and those whose insurance only covers a portion of their health expenses, says Jonathan Pletzke, author of "Getting a Good Deal on Your Health Insurance Without Getting Ripped Off." Patients can get 20% to 50% knocked off the price, he estimates:

• Pay cash upfront. Doctors may offer you the same lower rate that they charge insurance companies, if not an even cheaper fee if a patient agrees to pay them at the time of the appointment, says Pletzke. Then the patient can later file a medical claim with their insurer. Say your insurer covers 80% of a $650 root canal (or $520). Negotiate a $450 cash fee before filing the claim, and you've cut your out-of-pocket costs by $40. An uninsured consumer could save $200.

• Compare costs. Check your provider's rates against those of other doctors in the area. (You can find local rates through your insurer, or via patient posts at Outofpocket.com.) Often, doctors will lower their fees in order to stay competitive. A New Yorker going for an eye exam and contact lens fitting, for example, could pay anywhere from $45 to $69 depending on the eye doctor they visit. Potential savings: $24.

Read our story for more tips on cutting health-care costs.

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