[gmac]

I thought the implication from the comparison with other countries is that it's primarily pricing power: i.e. profit for the providers. But I agree that the article doesn't address the title very directly.

[scott_s]

This Planet Money podcast gets into it somewhat: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/02/26/172996963/episode-...

Part of the problem is that few people even know what the prices are.

[homosaur]

Not to mention prices are and always have been variable depending on whether you're an individual or insurance company.