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Medical providers and insurers won't tell you prices because they want to keep ripping you off


               
2019 Aug 3, 9:46am   1,126 views  14 comments

by Patrick   follow (59)  

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-07-29/column-could-our-healthcare-system-be-any-dumber

Fountain Valley resident Jennifer Moore makes a really good point.

“When you take your car to the mechanic, they give you a written estimate before they touch it,” she told me.

“So why is it that when you go to the hospital, you have no idea how much something will cost until the bill arrives?”

Moreover, why are prices so completely different from one healthcare provider to another?

And why is it that when patients try to find out in advance how much something will cost, they’re treated like unwelcome guests rather than equal partners in their own treatment?

The magnitude of reforming the $3.6-trillion U.S. healthcare system is so daunting, it’s hard to even know where to start.

Here, let me help.

Open a window and let in some sunlight.

The near-total lack of transparency in healthcare pricing is a key reason we have the highest costs in the world — roughly twice what people in other developed countries pay.

Simply put, drugmakers, hospitals, labs and other medical providers face no accountability for their frequently obscene charges because it’s often impossible for patients to know how badly they’re being ripped off.

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1   Dholliday126   @   2019 Aug 3, 10:12am  

Most providers will give you there fee schedule if you ask them. If they are in network with your insurance you are usually fine, all providers receive they same payments from insurers. What does affect price if the place of service, i.e. getting your tonsils out in a hospital surgery room vs. an ambulatory surgery center.

That article is disingenuous because mechanics change their quotes all the time as they work on your car and find new problems. Similar things happen in medcine. Mechanics also have you car as collateral if they dont get paid, medical providers dont have shit so they need to send to collections or sue you, thus their billed charges need to be high to recoup that cost.

The main problem are out of network emergency rooms, ambulances and ER docs that bill the shit out of you when you have an emergency because they know they have you by the balls. Outlaw that and have providers post which insurance companies they are contracted with and that would take care of most of the problem.
2   FortWayneHatesRealtors   @   2019 Aug 3, 10:22am  

Didn’t Trump require prices be disclosed? Or was it not enforceable?
3   Patrick   @   2019 Aug 3, 10:34am  

Yes Trump did require hospitals to publish price lists. A good start.
4   FortWayneHatesRealtors   @   2019 Aug 3, 10:44am  

I haven’t seen any publish it btw.

Patrick says
Yes Trump did require hospitals to publish price lists. A good start.
5   Patrick   @   2019 Aug 4, 11:57am  

It is the law though:

https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/health/hospitals-must-make-prices-public-starting-jan/W4pjlYm3vtuKoiNVDnr3qJ/

Anyway, hospitals get out of it by just making up extremely high numbers that they don't actually charge (unless you don't have insurance -- then they charge you those numbers).
6   GNL   @   2019 Aug 4, 12:02pm  

In case it isn't evident, America is a scam. A skim in every way possible. Look at all the ways it's done in real estate and financing.
7   RWSGFY   @   2019 Aug 4, 12:22pm  

Patrick says
“When you take your car to the mechanic, they give you a written estimate before they touch it,” she told me.


They also tell you it is not final and can go up if they find something else once they tear it apart. This is especially true for collision repair. That's why it's a bad idea to settle with the ins co, cash a check and then start a repair.
8   MisdemeanorRebel   @   2019 Aug 4, 1:49pm  

Many hospitals, care centers, and even large doctor's offices get flat payments from insurers as well.

Insurers and Hospitals have pretty good ideas A) How something will cost and B) The likelihood of certain procedures/complexities arising based on your conditions and that of the tens of thousands with your mix/absence of certain conditions.

Also, mechanics update you if they find additional problems. Hospitals just shock you with a final bill.

There needs to be a mandatory cash discount or mandatory UCR Net 90 days CASH for accepting Medicare.
9   MisdemeanorRebel   @   2019 Aug 4, 1:49pm  

Many hospitals, care centers, and even large doctor's offices get flat payments from insurers as well.

Insurers and Hospitals have pretty good ideas A) How something will cost and B) The likelihood of certain procedures/complexities arising based on your conditions and that of the tens of thousands with your mix/absence of certain conditions.

Also, mechanics update you if they find additional problems. Hospitals just shock you with a final bill.

There needs to be a mandatory cash discount or mandatory UCR Net 90 days CASH for accepting Medicare.
10   Patrick   @   2019 Aug 27, 3:41pm  

I think US healthcare can be fixed if millions of people demand:

1. an EASY way to know price of non-emergency treatment in advance so they can shop around
2. strict regulation of emergency treatment prices, because there can be no free market in an emergency

How do we get those millions to demand it?
11   KgK one   @   2019 Aug 27, 4:18pm  

Getting quote is preferred.i think it can be done with 70% of doctor services.

For other 30 % its tricky.
Compared to a car, human body is significantly complicated.

There are shiity doctors and mechanics. You end up getting wrong diagnoses n fixing wrong parts, costing way more. Mechanics do trick people in spending lot , and sometimes breaking other parts , I hear stories of con artist mechanic all the time.

Prices vary at different mechanics. Lexus dealer mechanic 200/hr vs honda 100/hr. Vs local guy 50.

Some doctors are really good, n may charge more.

Cost of living also varies. Ny Manhattan doc hay to pay a lot for office , employees, etc vs Ohio town.

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