Medical costs comparison site (Free guide to fair healthcare pricing)

As someone who is turning 26 in the near future, and doesn't have healthcare benefits, this is relevant to my interests!

Thanks OP

Quote from veeshan28 : As someone who is turning 26 in the near future, and doesn't have healthcare benefits, this is relevant to my interests! Thanks OP

the recent readers digest has lots of shocking info on costs that get charged to our medical bills... Most of us take those costs for granted and dont even think of price compare, whereas we try to save a few dollars on grocery, clothes etc. And medical savings are usually higher if we are pre-informed like this.. so one potential slicker 'deal' through the comparison site could save lots...

Quote from Zemblanity : the recent readers digest has lots of shocking info on costs that get charged to our medical bills... Most of us take those costs for granted and dont even think of price compare, whereas we try to save a few dollars on grocery, clothes etc. And medical savings are usually higher if we are pre-informed like this.. so one potential slicker 'deal' through the comparison site could save lots...

The problem of price comparison is we all know we get what we pay for. Unless there is also something like Yelp for doctor and medical services, otherwise just compare only price is just a small part of comparison.
While looking into our medical costs, I notice some research saying when compare USA to all other 1st world countries
- USA health care cost is on average 2 times (or even 3x) more expensive than most of other 1st world countries
- life expectancy of people in USA is near the bottom compare to all other 1st world countries. May be higher than only Portugal.
- In most other 1st world countries, health care is a right while in USA, health care is a privilege (which means all aspect of health care is for profit). Seems like most of the higher cost in USA has to do with administrative costs which probably related to the kind of insurance system and for profit system we have.

Like someone said, everyone here take those health care costs for granted and dont even think about the price. By the time they do need expensive health care, then they find out how expensive it is and how many things insurance don't cover. By that time, they are too busy thinking about their health or their love one health and pay less attention to the cost and why the cost is so high.

Quote from MozartA : The problem of price comparison is we all know we get what we pay for. Unless there is also something like Yelp for doctor and medical services, otherwise just compare only price is just a small part of comparison. While looking into our medical costs, I notice some research saying when compare USA to all other 1st world countries - USA health care cost is on average 2 times (or even 3x) more expensive than most of other 1st world countries - life expectancy of people in USA is near the bottom compare to all other 1st world countries. May be higher than only Portugal. - In most other 1st world countries, health care is a right while in USA, health care is a privilege (which means all aspect of health care is for profit). Seems like most of the higher cost in USA has to do with administrative costs which probably related to the kind of insurance system and for profit system we have. Like someone said, everyone here take those health care costs for granted and dont even think about the price. By the time they do need expensive health care, then they find out how expensive it is and how many things insurance don't cover. By that time, they are too busy thinking about their health or their love one health and pay less attention to the cost and why the cost is so high.

Angie's list already provides this service (reviews on doctors/nurses/hospitals etc). But Angie's list is a paid search service though.

Quote from MozartA : The problem of price comparison is we all know we get what we pay for. Unless there is also something like Yelp for doctor and medical services, otherwise just compare only price is just a small part of comparison. While looking into our medical costs, I notice some research saying when compare USA to all other 1st world countries - USA health care cost is on average 2 times (or even 3x) more expensive than most of other 1st world countries - life expectancy of people in USA is near the bottom compare to all other 1st world countries. May be higher than only Portugal. - In most other 1st world countries, health care is a right while in USA, health care is a privilege (which means all aspect of health care is for profit). Seems like most of the higher cost in USA has to do with administrative costs which probably related to the kind of insurance system and for profit system we have. Like someone said, everyone here take those health care costs for granted and dont even think about the price. By the time they do need expensive health care, then they find out how expensive it is and how many things insurance don't cover. By that time, they are too busy thinking about their health or their love one health and pay less attention to the cost and why the cost is so high.

Many, many factors lead to the life expectancy. Not only the quality of healthcare.

Good Luck in trying to find someone who accepts "fair" prices listed on this website.

LOL. Just checked the site. Just remember, although the site lists what they consider to be the fair price, the total price will differ usually a lot less if the physician/ hospital is reimbursed through an insurance company.

done.

you want a fair price? destroy the "insurance" companies and let doctors compete with an actual price list.

Quote from cptbarkey : you want a fair price? destroy the "insurance" companies and let doctors compete with an actual price list.

With most business companies, this model has seemed to work. Supply vs demand economics; However this model may not work properly with physician/ clinical care since the number of physicians here in the US is already limited numbers.

With limited numbers, a similar infamous model would be a cartel/ monopolized system, and we wouldn't want that.

Quote from euwil : Like it or not "fair" price indices are the future of the us medical industry. With the passage of the recent federal individual health insurance mandate, the next step is a mandate on all docs to accept medicaid and medicare. how is that a logical extension? Medicaid and medicare are already a defacto blue book on "fair and reasonable" fees that physicians are expected to charge. oh really? how do we know that? Now all we need is a "fair" price index on consumer goods, housing, transport, luxury goods. Actually, someone in the gov needs to decide what is fair compensation for the work needed to make just about everything. LOL! who is this super mega genius & why is he working in gov't? For example, an apple iphone costs $800 but only costs apple like $60 to make. nobody's forcing you to buy that. Nike shoes cost $150 but only $20 to make. nobody's forcing you to buy them. It's not fair and should be regulated. how would we determine what's fair? What about ripoff new car prices, jewelry? how do we know the prices are a ripoff? Don't get me started on what plumbers and electricians charge. That should be regulated too. so we would pay them less & give the savings to bureaucratic regulators?

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Getting on soapbox:

Wow just wow. I hope I missed sarcasm in a few of these post.

New rule, you must take econ 101 before recommending Marxist policies for price regulation in America.

Just saying.

The current system is causing near monopolies on severely restricting competition in the insurance market. That, and the fact that we expect everything to be paid by insurance companies.

Got a stubbed toe you want to get x-rayd, bandaged, pain pills and antibiotics for? Pay for it yourself. See how important you think the pills and x-rays are when you have to pay for it yourself.

Getting off soapbox: