If your car needs new tires, the first thing you may do is start comparison shopping, and pricing deals at different tire centers. But what if you need a kneecap replacement or back surgery? Nowadays, it’s difficult to know just how much doctor visits, procedures or hospital visits will cost. This mystery around health care pricing has partly been due to the fact that how much hospitals and providers are paid varies depending on who’s paying them.
Insurers have different negotiated rates. As the consumer, have a stake in the cost of your care because there is still a share coming out of your pocket.
So where can you turn to get an idea of costs before you schedule care?
If you’re insured, a good place to start is your health plan website. Many of the national insurers are now offering pricing tools. There are also sites for consumers to search for pricing in their area. HealthcareBluebook.com offers a suggested 'fair price' for a service based on a database of rates paid by private insurers. NewChoiceHealth.com lists prices providers charge. According to New Choice Health Inc., this list is derived from Medicare data. These sites aren’t perfect, but can give a rough estimate of typical costs, which can help to budget for medical expenses. If you’re seeking information to compare quality of care, visit sites like HospitalComparehhs.gov and LeapfrogGroup.org.
"The human body is the only machine for which there are no spare parts." - Herman M. Biggs