[c0nfused]

Typically, the rates negotiated with the various insurance companies are basically secret. No one wants to share the data and there is great incentive not to.

If you are in the insurer side, you think you have a competitive advantage compared to company Y. Sharing what you are paying per procedure is bad business

If you are on the Hospital side, you want to make sure the insurers keep paying more, and publishing means a quick race to the bottom.

This means that in most cases in america, you cant know what something is going to cost until after you get billed. Its great for literally everyone except the consumer.

[andruby]

My personal opinion is that this should be illegal. Prices for the same treatment should be equal regardless of patient or insurer. The insurance repayment policies could differ, but at least the base pay won't seem completely made up.

Disclaimer: I only lived in the US for a year.

[toast0]

The base rate is the same (in theory), but insurance policy A is only going to pay 18% of procedure Z and policy B will pay 27%; uninsured patients will be offered a 50% discount if they pay promptly, otherwise the bill will eventually be sold to collections for 1% if it's not paid)

[mfoy_]

Isn't it anti-competitive? How can consumers make an informed decision as to which care provider to visit?

Isn't this in the same boat as price-fixing?