[throwup]

Why can't they at least give you an estimate like every other industry?

If you take your car to a mechanic, they might charge $100 up front to diagnose the problem and then estimate another $1200 to replace your transmission. At that point, you either say go ahead and agree to the price, or say no and get your car back and take it somewhere else.

That seems fair for everyone involved.

[lotsofpulp]

As of Jan 1, 2022, US healthcare providers are required to provide good faith estimates, and the final bill can only be $400 more than the estimate:

https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidanc...

https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/document/guidance-good-faith-es...

When I went for my annual wellness exam, the doctor's office had me acknowledge that my wellness exam would cost $350 or something in the event insurance did not pay for it, and there were posters up informing people that they have a right to ask for a good faith estimate.

[blue039]

> that they have a right to ask for a good faith estimate.

Yet another magical misdirection by the bought and paid for law writers.

You shouldn't have to ask. It should be no different than any other service. "Here Mr. Jones, your estimate." at which point you scoff and find somewhere else. Instead it's "oh btw you can ask for a good faith estimate" but the default is "bill the patient for everything at 9x rate and negotiate it down to 3x rate".

Entire system is a racket. Most doctors are rich not because they work hard but rather they are rich because their practices are highly effective fraud rings. Locally, many doctors won't even take medicaid because they can't defraud the government. It's fraud all the way down.