This has been my experience as well. My understanding was that they technically bill the uninsured the same basic amount they bill the insurances, prior to them

This has been my experience as well. My understanding was that they technically bill the uninsured the same basic amount they bill the insurances, prior to them applying the "insurance discounts". I've often thought this could be solved by legislation (something like the uninsured cannot pay more than the lowest insurance + copay amount), but lots of folks are against such price controls.