> I suppose one could argue that healthcare providers should assume this liability and give you a price upfront, factoring into it the risk of complications, et

> I suppose one could argue that healthcare providers should assume this liability and give you a price upfront, factoring into it the risk of complications, etc. But in the end, if you don't pay for your own bad luck It's not your bad luck, it's their proffeshional responsebility to providing accurate diagnostics and figure out what treatment you need a nd how much it will cost. Every proffeshion has to deal with this, from lawyers to builders, and they provide estimates or even fixed fee services. If they really have no clue they provide an hourly rate. But no other proffeshion just makes up prices out of nowhere. The only thing different about hospitals is that you are unconcious and can't control anything. Let me ask you a question - how does 'free market' and competition work without price information?