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2. Be careful of costs leading up to surgery. Make sure you don't receive duplicative or redundant tests. If your primary care doctor refers you to a surgeon, you will need to take copies of your medical records, lab results and imaging studies to the surgeon. If you think you are getting duplicate tests or images, speak up and make sure your surgeon knows about the previous tests.

There are often many, many tests that can be performed to diagnose a condition, but don't assume you need to have all of them. Don't be afraid to ask if a test is necessary or if it will make a difference in your diagnosis or treatment decision. For example, there are several different imaging studies to diagnose gall bladder stones. An ultrasound test is typically the single best test to diagnose this condition and usually the least expensive imaging study.

3. Make sure surgery is the best option for you. You should always discuss available treatment options with your doctor. In most cases, you will have several options to consider that may make a big difference in how much your care will cost. Your options for treatment will depend on your situation.

Ask your doctor if you need a particular treatment right away or if there are less intense therapies that can be tried first. Sometimes there are low risk alternatives that can be tried before choosing intense medical interventions, such as surgery. For example, there are many different treatments for low back pain, only some of which require surgery. You may want to try rest, medications or physical therapy first.

4. Make sure you get the best type of surgery for your situation and that it's done in the right place. There are often different types of surgery that can be performed for a particular condition. Selecting the best option for you can be better for your care and save you money. For example, if you need a hip repl
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