Insurance makes a unnatural market allowing the providers to charge unrealistic prices for services rendered.
Given the absurd gymnastics that hospitals and doctors must go through to actually collect their payment from insurance, they could likely cut their fees 50% or more by going cash fee-for-service.
Back in the day,( yes, I'm that old), we could have a gall bladder removed on the easy payment plan. Today, even that operation would be like buying a new Astin Martin on a WalMart salary. I'm not sure how many doctors today would take chickens for payment either.
The real answer is to do away with insurance and let the free market take over.
Insurance makes a unnatural market allowing the providers to charge unrealistic prices for services rendered.