[pushswap]

The idea that this is a free market system is patently false The cost is not $19k , it is whatever the billing department decides to surprise the patient with.

The medical care quality isn't relevant to the point, but it is dependent on how you want to measure it. If getting basic care to your citizens at an affordable cost is any important metric , then the US fails miserably.

I never goto the ER even if I need to anymore. I'm too busy paying off my $30k bill for a single EKG.

[egsmi]

> The idea that this is a free market system is patently false The cost is not $19k , it is whatever the billing department decides to surprise the patient with.

Totally agree. And even if the billing department could tell you the price, which they can’t, is the dad supposed to call around for quotes while the kid bleeds?

[mickotron]

Free market and competition relies on the consumer being able to make an informed choice. How can they if there are no published prices, and then no way for these entities to compete?

It is designed this way like a cartel, inflate prices, nothing free market about it.