"If patients had the ability to know expected prices beforehand, market forces would work to bring prices down." If patients knew to ask. Really. If you are co

"If patients had the ability to know expected prices beforehand, market forces would work to bring prices down." If patients knew to ask. Really. If you are covered by insurance (including medicare/tri-care/etc) you won't get an answer. But if you are paying out of pocket (and most hospitals require credit if you are doing something serious - like open heart)you can negotiate the price. Let me say again, the hospital will negotiate. The doctors and labs (not done in the hospital) are another matter. Also, if you see an aspirin on your bill costing $75 you need to call. You'd be surprised how effective this is. Most Americans never question the price of anything. Even cars these days people take at face value. Of course, if you in the ER with chest pain, I'll admit, the last thing on your mind is the bill. And the hospitals know that. So what's the lesson here? In America have insurance. Even if you are 20 years old. A simple care wreck can destroy you financially. You think student loans are bad? Try a drug overdose. Or a heart attack. Or a fractured back ( a car wreck). If you young, insurance is cheap. Dirt cheap.