I asked my Primary doctor if paying by cash would make visits cheaper-he said no.
I have many friends and acquaintances that have had remarkably different experiences. 50% to 90% savings. But you have to ask.
I had an emergency room visit about 8 months ago and when my wife went in to pay the bill, they cut it in half. She had to negotiate, though.
Fact is, medical work, without insurance, is like any other work that needs to be done to a car, house, etc. And when you are asking someone to do something that is going to take a grand total of 1 hour of their time, and one our of one or two other people, it may cost a few hundred or even a thousand. It shouldn’t cost tens of thousands. And when you get a quote up front, it doesn’t.
Medical care isn’t really all that expensive. What is expensive is insured medical care.