I agree with everything this article suggests, but to be fair to hospitals, they can't really tell you what some procedures will cost for obvious reasons. A de

I agree with everything this article suggests, but to be fair to hospitals, they can't really tell you what some procedures will cost for obvious reasons. A delivery may ordinarily cost $x, but if a caesarean is required it may be $x + $y.. etc. A car mechanic will give you an estimate for what it will cost you to fix something, and then call you if it turns out to be more expensive. In a delivery (or a surgery) they can't really ask you if you are OK with an additional cost that may be required, they have to just do it. However, a hospital could provide a list of prices that are commonly billed. What a list of prices would do is give you a sense if one hospital costs a lot more than another in general. If you knew you might change which hospital you go to and.. you know markets etc.