US Hospitals Have Dramatic Differences in Pricing For Same Procedures

May 29, 2013

Americans like to consider their health care the best of the best. But in the most recent CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) life expectancy estimates, the U.S. ranks 51st in the world. And the cost? Americans pay at least twice as much for their health care than most developed nations, including England and France. These costs hit uninsured Americans the hardest. And the charges vary from hospital to hospital.

Rickey Dana is one of millions of Americans living with a long-term illness.

"I would wake up in the middle of the night, vomiting whatever I had eaten, if there was anything left in there. It was disastrous [in a whispered sigh]," said Dana.

The diagnosis: chronic Lyme disease, a tick-borne bacterial infection. Her pre-existing condition of depression had already caused insurance companies to either deny her coverage or offer unaffordable policies. And the bills kept adding up.

"March. March. March. March. These were all due within a week of each other," she said.

Her doctor put her on four different drugs and told her she needed rest. But all she could think about was how to get by after losing her job and racking up tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.

"I have to pay rent, and you're charging me $400 for a 30-minute consult. But you don't want me to have stress in my life," she said.