“Hospital costs are most out of control when an insurance company isn’t involved.”
Ask for the cash price. In most cases its half the list price or far less. Unless the doctor has been sued for providing cash patients better treatment in which case they’ll refuse to accept cash.
The overhead and interference of the insurance companies force prices up.
My daughter is having an MRI in a few weeks. "Hospital and Doctor fees: $900 out of pocket (%20 co-pay).
I called, asked for the cash price: only a 20% discount off the billable price (the "insurance" price).
something did NOT seem right.
I asked why so much cost, spent an hour on the phone. The nice lady (she really was trying to be helpful, not some "I don't give a *&#(" type) plugged in my insurance info and the out-of-pocket shot up to $1350....???!!!
She said "I need to talk to someone, this doesn't sound right!"
She called back. The "system" was messed up and my actual out-of-pocket would be $300.
She was floored and worried that others would be paying the "messed up" inflated rates for other procedures.
I don't tend to believe in honest mistakes at that level.