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> As it is there's no way for consumers to "shop around" because they can't get prices for most tests, procedures, or even medications until they bill through i

> As it is there's no way for consumers to "shop around" because they can't get prices for most tests, procedures, or even medications until they bill through insurance (which can take weeks). To complicate things further, some of these things will happen while people have passed out and taken to the emergency room. This might be the only sort of debt you can incur while both unconscious and without prior specific authorization. Many other medical decisions are made under duress - sickness and pain, with an occasional risk of death.

ams6110 10y ago
All of this nonsense is exactly because everyone expects insurance to pay for all medical care from hangnail to heart failure. Single payer would be even worse, because it's even more of a "not my money -- I don't care" situation for the individual. Dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, etc. all have straightforward pricing for each procedure, and you can call and ask them what it is and it's not too hard to shop around. Only medicine has mystery prices hidden behind third party payers.
- CaptSpify 10y ago
  > Dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, etc. all have straightforward pricing for each procedure, and you can call and ask them what it is and it's not too hard to shop around. Not IME. I've gotten different prices from what I was quoted, and some places have refused to quote me a price.
  - micahbright 10y ago
    It is possible to get prices and negotiate - healthcare providers just aren't used to it. I was just listening to a good friend who doesn't carry insurance negotiate on price for an elective procedure he was thinking about having. They came down 20% right off the bat. After a callback, he had them down 50%. That was just for the physician. He had to make another call to the hospital, and the anesthesiologist, so I can't tell you the outcome. Point being, it isn't as hard as you might think.
    - CaptSpify 10y ago
      My point though: Just because it may be easy for you doesn't work for everyone. I called 3 different hospitals for a procedure, and none of them had any idea how to go about quoting me anything. I got transfered around a lot because they honestly didn't have a procedure for quoting. And I honestly doubt that any of them gave me an correct quote, because if they don't even know how to quote, what are the chances that their quote is accurate?
- jellicle 10y ago
  As it turns out, we don't have to speculate about single-payer since most other advanced and some not-so-advanced nations use it, and it works great. Costs are vastly lower than the U.S.'s system.
- infinite8s 10y ago
  When you are having a heart attack good luck shopping around for the cheapest hospital.

ams6110 10y ago

All of this nonsense is exactly because everyone expects insurance to pay for all medical care from hangnail to heart failure. Single payer would be even worse, because it's even more of a "not my money -- I don't care" situation for the individual. Dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, etc. all have straightforward pricing for each procedure, and you can call and ask them what it is and it's not too hard to shop around. Only medicine has mystery prices hidden behind third party payers.

CaptSpify 10y ago
> Dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, etc. all have straightforward pricing for each procedure, and you can call and ask them what it is and it's not too hard to shop around. Not IME. I've gotten different prices from what I was quoted, and some places have refused to quote me a price.
- micahbright 10y ago
  It is possible to get prices and negotiate - healthcare providers just aren't used to it. I was just listening to a good friend who doesn't carry insurance negotiate on price for an elective procedure he was thinking about having. They came down 20% right off the bat. After a callback, he had them down 50%. That was just for the physician. He had to make another call to the hospital, and the anesthesiologist, so I can't tell you the outcome. Point being, it isn't as hard as you might think.
  - CaptSpify 10y ago
    My point though: Just because it may be easy for you doesn't work for everyone. I called 3 different hospitals for a procedure, and none of them had any idea how to go about quoting me anything. I got transfered around a lot because they honestly didn't have a procedure for quoting. And I honestly doubt that any of them gave me an correct quote, because if they don't even know how to quote, what are the chances that their quote is accurate?
jellicle 10y ago
As it turns out, we don't have to speculate about single-payer since most other advanced and some not-so-advanced nations use it, and it works great. Costs are vastly lower than the U.S.'s system.
infinite8s 10y ago
When you are having a heart attack good luck shopping around for the cheapest hospital.