Medical spas are quickly becoming a favorite among people – women in particular – looking to treat themselves to the latest and greatest innovations in skin care. From vein therapy to acne treatment to laser hair removal, most medical spas offer a variety of services designed to improve one’s overall appearance. Of course, there is one downside to medical spa treatments: Since they are medically supervised but not always medically necessary, the cost can be rather significant. For this reason, a good medical spa will go out of its way to assure its customers that they are getting the best value for their hard-earned dollars. Dr. Ulysses Agpaoa is medical director at Hudson Laser Skin Care, a New Jersey-based medical spa, and he understands that for many, the decision to spend money at a medical spa is not to be taken lightly. For this reason, he offers the following advice to customers who might be on the fence about forking over their funds in exchange for medical spa services:
Shop around
One of the best ways to ensure that you’re getting a good deal on a given medical spa treatment is to do a little comparison shopping. Since many medical spas provide free consultations, it doesn’t hurt to see what price the competition has to offer. Of course, in the world of medical spa treatments, “cheaper” doesn’t always mean “better.” However, it is still a good idea to compare the cost of a given service at a number of spas in order to establish a reasonable baseline price. If one spa in particular is charging significantly more for the same service, then you might want to question the discrepancy or choose a facility with a more competitive price.
Let them fight over you
Some medical spas such as Hudson Laser Skin Care will honor competitors’ estimates by matching or even beating prices. As a customer, you should never assume that there’s no wiggle room as far as cost goes. So if you happen to get a good vibe from a particular medical spa whose pricing is a tad higher than that of its competitors, then get an estimate in writing and ask your medical spa of choice to match that lower price. Chances are, the spa in question will want your business and therefore do what it takes to get it.
Don’t assume that your insurance company won’t cover the procedure
Many people are too quick to assume that their insurance companies won’t pay for medical spa treatments. While items that are not medically necessary probably won’t be covered, there’s a good chance that an insurance company will cover the bulk of the cost when a legitimate medical diagnosis is involved. For example, certain acne and vein treatments tend to be recognized by a number of insurance companies as medically necessary. A good medical spa like Hudson Laser Skin Care will provide the necessary information to insurance companies before scheduling a procedure so that you’ll know whether or not it will be covered prior to making a final decision.
Ask to be rewarded
Many medical spas have “refer a friend” programs that are designed to reward customers for bringing in new business. By advising your friends to visit a spa that maintains such a program, you might find yourself eligible for discounted treatments or “points” that can be used towards the spa’s various procedures and products.
Ask about a payment plan
Many medical spas offer monthly payment plans to make it easier for their clients to cover the cost of services without having to plunk down a huge chunk of change up front. In fact, Hudson Laser Skin Care offers interest-free specials in order to help patients afford the treatments they want and need without putting them in a financial bind.
In today’s trying economic times, the idea of paying for medical spa services can be overwhelming to some. However, before you give up on that procedure you’ve been wanting, do some research and explore your options. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that your medical spa treatment is more affordable and attainable than you initially thought it to be.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
