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> If I get a bill for $300 for a pediatrician appointment, I know what the next one is likely to cost, yes? No. The next one could be more, it could be less. T

by timr 1y ago

> If I get a bill for $300 for a pediatrician appointment, I know what the next one is likely to cost, yes? No. The next one could be more, it could be less. There could be other fees. You have no idea, because there is no price transparency. You obviously know this is true, or you wouldn't have used the words "likely to cost". You're just arguing to argue.

ceejayoz 1y ago
You're very fixated on knowing the cost beforehand. Americans know intimately that doctors visits are going to hit them in the pocketbook. Far more than someone from a single-payer system does, where there's a good chance they will never receive a bill with a dollar amount on it. Yet, we're the big outlier on medical costs. Knowing "this is gonna cost me, ooof" does not seem to have any impact on the costliness of the system.
zdp7 1y ago
I'm not sure why you think there is no price transparency in the US. I know exactly how much I was billed and how much my insurance paid. I generally don't ask ahead of time, because it's going to cost me $20. I get an explanation of benefits for every visit. When I was still below deductible at one appointment they gave me options and how much it would cost. What I don't really get is the option to choose. Limited providers and the network limit my options. From your description you have extraordinary insurance. I have good insurance (according to a staff member commenting on our low deductible). It does not work how you describe. Our insurance servicer (United Healthcare) makes all the decisions. Doctor prescribed x, it gets denied. We've had denials on meds they have been covering for years. I wish we could shop around. It's just not realistic.
- timr 1y ago
  > I'm not sure why you think there is no price transparency in the US. I know exactly how much I was billed and how much my insurance paid. Go to the grocery store. There are no prices posted, you just take your cart to the register, and the cashier charges you $20, then sends you a bill in the mail for a random amount -- trust us, we'll figure it out! Oh, that can of tomatoes really was $50. Sorry. At least you know for next time, right? (Unless the price changes.) Do you see the problem now? Would you really call this system price transparency?

by timr 1y ago

ceejayoz 1y ago

You're very fixated on knowing the cost beforehand. Americans know intimately that doctors visits are going to hit them in the pocketbook. Far more than someone from a single-payer system does, where there's a good chance they will never receive a bill with a dollar amount on it. Yet, we're the big outlier on medical costs. Knowing "this is gonna cost me, ooof" does not seem to have any impact on the costliness of the system.

zdp7 1y ago

I'm not sure why you think there is no price transparency in the US. I know exactly how much I was billed and how much my insurance paid. I generally don't ask ahead of time, because it's going to cost me $20. I get an explanation of benefits for every visit. When I was still below deductible at one appointment they gave me options and how much it would cost. What I don't really get is the option to choose. Limited providers and the network limit my options. From your description you have extraordinary insurance. I have good insurance (according to a staff member commenting on our low deductible). It does not work how you describe. Our insurance servicer (United Healthcare) makes all the decisions. Doctor prescribed x, it gets denied. We've had denials on meds they have been covering for years. I wish we could shop around. It's just not realistic.

timr 1y ago
> I'm not sure why you think there is no price transparency in the US. I know exactly how much I was billed and how much my insurance paid. Go to the grocery store. There are no prices posted, you just take your cart to the register, and the cashier charges you $20, then sends you a bill in the mail for a random amount -- trust us, we'll figure it out! Oh, that can of tomatoes really was $50. Sorry. At least you know for next time, right? (Unless the price changes.) Do you see the problem now? Would you really call this system price transparency?