Why We Need Transparency in Health Care Costs

Harriet Green reflects on the importance of transparency in health care costs, sharing her personal experiences with medical billing that highlight significant discrepancies and confusion regarding prices. Her narrative emphasizes the complexities and frustrations patients face when dealing with unexpected medical bills.

1. Personal Experience with Insurance

• Green’s daughter questioned the necessity of health insurance when a doctor visit was not accessible.

• The author had a rule of waiting 72 hours before seeking medical care for non-serious conditions, influenced by high insurance deductibles.

2. Urgent Care Visit

• After a health crisis involving her child, Green visited urgent care and faced a surprising bill.

• The total for a brief doctor visit and a plain x-ray exceeded $1,000, which she found outrageous compared to previous medical costs.

3. Billing Discrepancies

• Green experienced a stark price difference from a prior visit and assumed there must have been a billing mistake.

• Contacting Stanford Healthcare revealed the billing codes used were deemed correct, although she believed the x-ray procedure code may have been charged incorrectly.

4. Estimates and Appeals

• After obtaining an estimate from her insurance provider, Aetna, she believed she could appeal based on their discrepancy.

• Aetna's response confirmed that while estimates exist, there is no guarantee of accuracy, and the appeal process was tedious and unhelpful.

5. Lack of Price Transparency

• The author critiques the effectiveness of the cost estimates provided by healthcare systems, suggesting that they do not facilitate informed decisions for patients.

• Stanford Healthcare was depicted as expensive compared to other providers in the area.

6. Regulatory Landscape

• Mention of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's actions to protect consumers from medical debt impacting credit scores showcases a growing recognition of issues in medical billing.

• Some states have enacted laws to shield patients from unfair medical debt reporting.

7. Moral and Ethical Concerns

• Green questions the ethical implications of deceptive billing practices, arguing that regulations benefit organizations instead of ensuring fair pricing for patients.

• She contrasts the healthcare system's practices with consumer expectations in other industries, like auto repair, that require upfront cost estimates.

The experience recounted by Green emphasizes the need for greater transparency and ethical accountability in healthcare pricing. The systemic issues surrounding vague cost estimates and surprise medical bills highlight the disconnect between healthcare providers and patients, who are left navigating a complex and often unfair billing system. Proper disclosure of costs could improve patient decision-making and reduce misunderstandings regarding medical expenses. 

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/10/why_we_need_transparency_in_health_care_costs.html