What if all US health care costs were transparent? | Jeanne Pinder

In the US, the very same blood test can cost $19 at one clinic and $522 at another clinic just blocks away -- and nobody knows the difference until they get a bill weeks later. Journalist Jeanne Pinder says it doesn't have to be this way. She's built a platform that crowdsources the true costs of medical procedures and makes the data public, revealing the secrets of health care pricing. Learn how knowing what stuff costs in advance could make us healthier, save us money -- and help fix a broken system.

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[MostCommentsAreFake-udby]

Imagine going into a restaurant that refused to display prices.
They only told you afterwards how much the meal cost.

[davidinthedark]

Since she never says it in the video, the name of her website/database is "Clear Health Costs."

[adrianobulla]

I got a sadness deep as the ocean when she said, "The cheapest cancer care."

I'm European... The very concept is alien to us, the idea of having to "budget" your survival chances is inhumane...

[davidhutchison]

Transparency in health care costs is a good start.

[cpdivers]

I was in France last summer, I had no insurance there, I had to go to the emergency, I had an X-ray, and electrocardiogram, and seen by 2 doctors, I stayed in the hospital for about the 3 or 4 hours, there was only 2 people in front of me, but because it was heart related they took me in within 5 minutes

Total cost: 24.56 Euro ! I will remember this price my entire life

[tedphillips]

When was the last time you ate at a fine restaurant only weeks later to get bills from the chef, the buss boy, the waiter, and the dishwasher ?

[cdpgbc-mwkz]

I am Canadian. i know our universal health care system gets knocked by some of our southern friends. I agree, it is not perfect. But really, when you see these numbers....our system looks great. This is profit racketeering at its most obvious.

[johnthatcher]

The NHS is the BEST THING THE UK EVER DID.
The USA health care is an embarrassment

[mrcpuhead]

Ms. Pinder - thank you SO MUCH for doing this! Years ago I recall asking a provider for costs up front, and I got a puzzled reaction and don't recall getting the information. I'd love to hear my Congressman's reaction to a call for full transparency...

[karmasubliminal]

Omg the price of health care over in the US is nuts.

[danmallery]

Apparently, 55 people give a thumbs down for having the ability to know when they are being charged 1000% or more for a medical procedure or supply...

[Gerginthehat]

In 1999, I had the same procedure done in the space of 24 hrs due the Dr.'s rushing to go to a dinner party. The difference was an over night stay. The first cost $9, 000. The second $20, 000. When I asked for an itemized bill, I was stunned. The first thing I noticed was a pregnancy test. I am a man. They charged me for drugs not used and devices not used. When I showed this to a medical lawyer, he asked if he could have the case to sue. I told him only if the hospital didn't admit their mistake/ intended of charging. After the lawyer contacted the hospital, they asked if $3, 000 would be acceptable. As for the Dr performing the procedure, he had his license removed for malpractice/ Medicare fraud.

[Je.rone_]

The healthcare system needs to be improved. Left/right we should be able to agree with that

[snap]

what? you dont agree with 87 dollars for two advil?

[tomjeffersonwasright]

I paid $200 to get new lenses in my eye glass frames in San Diego. In Tijuana, I got the same lenses, from the same manufacturer, for $38. I got the same prescription, but in plastic, not glass, in Mumbai, India, for
$12.

[tomcotter]

Wow, it’s almost like prices go up when you artificially increase demand by conducting every healthcare transaction through insurance. Who would have thought.

[dalecs]

Several years ago I needed to have a colon screening. I wanted to know, beforehand, from my health insurance provider what my "Co-pay"would be. It took 2-1/2 years for me to get an answer after many frustrating calls. So my screening was delayed 2-1/2 years. I could have had it much sooner if I was willing to sign a blank check! Turns out that in Washington state there is some law that required them to tell me the cost if I asked. I guess they had 2-1/2 years to comply?

[ApocalypsesDawn]

I work in radiology and I 1000% agree with this. The prices hospitals charge is outrageous. Its not right. Only 3-4 exams could make any middle-class person bankrupt.

[ryanb]

What if you sat down at a restaurant and the menu had no prices listed. You can only know the cost of the fillet mignon after the meal. Would anyone not get up and leave?! Medical procedure cost secrecy is criminal.

[OldOhioGranny]

I needed a non covered service at the Cleveland Clinic. I called and asked them how much since my insurance didn't cover it. They said I had to wait until I was billed to see. For 30 minutes with a nutritionist, not a PHD, it was $700.