Medical procedures--Did You Research the Cost & Compare Prices?

ETA: I just want to add something in regards to you mentioning CT scans. Not all CT scans are equal. Believe me, you don't want a scan done using an older CT scanning machine. The newer machines image far more "slices" than the older ones, showing a MUCH clearer image than the older ones. It can make the difference in the right diagnosis, or not. I know this personally (the hard school of knocks.) So I believe strongly that sometimes you get what you pay for. I don't know if the same applies to MRI's - but I'd make sure before I let anyone with an old machine have anything to do with my care!

Original:
Sometimes you just can't find out what a procedure costs. I have asked before and they couldn't tell me because the costs have to do with the negotiated rate between the hospital, doctor and insurance company. And different insurance policies have to do with the rates too.

It's frustrating. The best you can do is be with an in-network provider. The people who REALLY get screwed are the ones who have no insurance at all. They pay a huge rate.

Dawn

I just went where I had been seen in the ER.

I had a ball park going in.

It was as painful as I thought it would be cost wise. Everything had a price tag on it as well. So I would have been comparison shopping for days. and I doubt they would have allowed me to jump around the day of to get my IV O. place and my drugs at another(drastic picture painted but you get my point:))

Everything in my opinion is also extremely inflated. They can not give a reason for why certain things cost so much...Except that makes it easier to cover loose ends with fraud, law suites and insurance issues.

I think the bill that surprised me the most was the triage care. The bed for fifteen twenty minutes was $1500.

We are being had on so many levels in this country it makes me sick.

I love you!!

I reseached the cost of a fetal diagnostic ultrasound before I had it for my second child. I got aggravated at the hospital I had the first O. done at and decided to "stick it to them" by going somewhere else.

However, what I was quoted on the phone and what they charged my insurance was off by a GRAND. I haven't received a bill from them (been several months now - almost six), so I'm not going to pursue it, but I'm really curious how they can justify that difference...

My husband just had 3 surgeries in the past 4 months. For us, we didn't really have a choice. He was initially in an emergency situation and had to have surgery immediately. He was then under the care of said surgeon/urologist for the duration of his need for care.

Fortunately, my husband has amazing insurance. It doesn't matter what things cost because we aren't paying anything unless its optional. Then we pay a percentage and I absolutely research price. Not everyone has these options. 1.5 years ago, we didn't. Healthcare is a tricky thing that many people don't understand. They are told O. thing and they believe it. Also, lots of plans are very limiting in who/what/where care be given.

I get what you are saying, though. I often wonder, with everyone having such a strong stance on healthcare, why so many people are so very uninformed.

We researched cost of child deliveries and left Manhattan ($35,000+ without complications) to move to central PA ($5000 without complications) to have our kids.

We asked for the cost of an amnio for O. pregnancy in advance and were quoted $1200. The bill arrived for $9000 and could not be reduced. I didn't get O. of those for next two kids that's for sure....Our ER bills are totally random. My son had two separate but similar sets of stitches. O. was $400. O. was $1200.

Nope - I pay $20 to see my primary, $40 for a specialist and $100 for the ER. Anything beyond that, I don't see at all. Unfortunately, I think that this kind of structure doesn't help to make people think about costs or how to contain them. I am not a fan of unnecessary medicine so I pass on things like x-rays and MRIs unless they are absolutely needed to diagnose something that will not get better without specific treatment. If I were on a plan with a deductible and/or where I paid a % of the bill, I would definitely shop around, but I also live in an area with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to health care. If I need something done at a hospital, there are literally 6 community hospitals within a 30-45 minute drive and in most instances, I skip them all and go to the major teaching hospital that my PCP works out of in Boston, just because I can.

No, but I wish I had. My ultrasound at my hospital cost me over $700. Every where else this same EXACT ultrasound runs around $175. Obviously, negotiated rates and insurance plays a factor, but there IS a base rate you can ask about.

This is old news. The problem is that when you need immediately medical attention, you don't have time to shop. Second, for many of us, we pay the same no matter where we go because we have contracted rates.

I tried to find out how much it would cost when I had my first child. The hospital told me I had to talk to the insurance. I asked the insurance and they told me it would depend on the hospital. No O. would tell me a damn thing about cost. I tried to find out how much genetic testing would cost. Again, no O. would tell me a damn thing.

No. My son is having his 3rd open heart surgery this summer and we never once asked what it would cost. We were way more concerned about the quality of the hospital and the surgeon's qualifications. Our insurance covers our medical 100%--we don't have a copay or pay a %.

Since my insurance has contracted rates with network providers I don't shop around. It costs me the same amount no matter which facility I choose to use.