[lotharbot]

The rule of thumb that I've heard (from a health cost sharing ministry [0]) is that you should expect to be able to negotiate a discount of at least 40% if you're a self-pay patient.

My sister shattered an ankle a while back, and was billed around $40,000. Between reductions, writeoffs, and charities the hospital connected her to, she ended up only paying about $5000.

[0] http://www.chministries.org/whattodo.aspx under "general information"