Stop Using Insurance First: The Healthcare Mindset That Saves You Thousands with David Berg
David Berg built a whole healthcare company around one stubborn idea: reaching for your insurance card first is the worst way to pay for anything. The same trap shows up in every recurring bill, not just medical ones.
▶ Watch the full episode with David Berg for deeper context on how to approach these questionsThe Bill You Never Questioned
Name one bill you pay over and over (a subscription, a monthly plan, a medical or repair charge) where you've genuinely never asked what it actually costs or whether there's a cheaper way to get the same thing. What is it?
Where Your Brain Jumps First
When that bill shows up, what's your very first thought? Is it 'how do I cover this?' (which card, which plan, can I afford it) instead of 'wait, what does this even cost, and do I need all of it?' Be honest about which question you reach for first.
Need It, Or Just Default?
Same way an X-ray often does the job of a $250-vs-$18,000 MRI, a lot of what we pay for is more than we actually need. Look at that bill again and split it: what part do you truly need, and what's just there because it came bundled or you never questioned it?
The Cheaper Door You Skipped
There's almost always a quieter, cheaper version of the same thing if you go ask. Which of these could shrink your bill the most? Circle what fits, then jot the one you'll try.
Ask The Price Out Loud
Pick the one bill from above. This week, before you pay or renew, make the actual call or send the actual message: ask what it costs in plain cash, and ask for the itemized breakdown. Write the exact words you'll say and who you'll say them to.