I find exorbitant medical costs to be a particularly disturbing thing, especially when it's difficult to price check, comparison shop and that the government wants to cover everyone all at the same time. This looks to me like a recipe for disaster for a number of reasons.
These websites offer the chance to learn about medical pricing and can give you the opportunity to "shop" for services.
healthcarebluebook.com
hospitalcostcompare.com
Remember too that stand alone clinics like a medical imaging center can be far less expensive than hospitals. When patients are not allowed to shop or even question prices, hospitals have no reason to keep prices low. We should all expect that we have the right to know prices and comparison shop.
There is also something people are now doing called medical tourism. Again, I can't personally speak to this, as I have not done it, but there are many resources out there by people who have done it with success. Medical tourism sounds scary but some assure us that it is not scary if you do your research first.
Here are a couple of books and there are many more out there!
https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Tourism-Travel-Guide-Top-Quality/dp/1934716006
https://www.alibris.com/Patients-Beyond-Borders-Everybodys-Guide-to-Affordable-World-Class-Medical-Travel-Josef-Woodman/book/28905363
Here is a group called the Medical Tourism Association:
http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com
There are also medical sharing groups that people can join instead of using regular insurance. Here are a couple of those groups:
http://www.chministries.org/
https://www.libertyhealthshare.org/
There are other groups online that you can find. They all have their own rules and guidelines.
Together, when we make it known that we care what is being offered to us and that we will comparison shop and expect good and decent prices, we can make a difference and expect the medical community to compete for our business just like any other business.
Happy Savings! ~
