Healthcare Solution? Give us the PRICES!

15 years ago, thinking I had the system figured out (still having no health insurance) I attempted to get a doctor appt for my daughter who had a smell coming out of her nose. I called various doctors offices and asked how much a visit with no tests etc would cost, as well as how much tests prices could range etc. I finally decided to go to the office that gave me the clearest answer which was $35 if I didn’t need any tests, just an office visit. The problem turned out to be a piece of plastic stuck up her nose. The doctor pulled it out easily in less than a minute. I went to pay and the bill was $55!
How could the person quoting th ecost could not have not known that the doctor exerting any action would cost more? The $35 was just to have him talk to us. It was very upsetting. However I paid and didn’t say anything.

I realized from that experience that these cost affecting perameters are not rocket science and there is no reason the consumer should not be privy to them. Even though I learned to speak up next time I wanted a price I still had one more lesson to learn.

About a year ago a child of mine needed a wrist brace for a sprain. I was at a clinic in Orem. I said, "I think I could get it cheaper elsewhere."
The doctor said, “Don’t worry. Your insurance will probably cover it. But we can get the price if you want.”
I said, "I would like that, Thank you."
The nurse came in, and I asked for the price as it didn’t look like she was going to give it.
She said, "don’t worry your insurance will cover it."
I said, “Well, I may be able to get it cheaper at Rite-Aid or something.”
"Oh, don’t worry, she said, you can just take this one."
I finally conceded, but later my conscience got to me.

The next time I went to the drug store I saw the same kind of wrist brace sold for $15. I thought to myself they better not have charged my insurance company much more than that! I believe that when my insurance company pays more we all pay more. A bill eventually came from my insurance for ME to pay $69 of the $99 wrist brace!

That story had a happy ending though as I reported the clinic to my insurance company and cc'd the clinic as well. The clinic kindly paid my balance of the bill and gave me a gift certificate for two to go out to dinner! To my rejoicing, they also did a training for all their employees to be more sensitive to people who want prices.

From this experience I learned that it is the system that is broken and individuals could be supported in divining prices for consumers if the system allowed it.

I WILL DECIDE IF I WANT TO STAY AND ACCEPT MEDICAL TREATMENT OR NOT but it’s difficult when I am only given a ballpark estimate and IT”S IMPOSSIBLE when I’m REFUSED even that!
I think we should make it a law that hospitals and clinics HAVE TO give cost, AT LEAST upon request!!!

Please post your experience of being refused a price before you purchased a service.