Most people hand it off to insurance and don't look at it twice. My parents have a story of looking at a paid by insurance bill that included $2,000 for two ibuprofen pills. They questioned it, and everyone involved (including the insurance company) said "why do you care, insurance pays for it?"
They don't pay list prices either, and have negotiated something much less. The list prices are basically a fantasy hoping to gouge the unknowing, while the rest of us feel like we got a discount.
Patient has a 20% copay. The provider bills $100,000. The provider "pays" $80,000. The patient pays $20,000.
Provider then pays a $70k kickback disguised as a discount on other charges, fees for participation in the system, etc. (or never even pays the EOB amount). In fact a total of $30k is paid for the services, and 66% of that comes from the patient.
Insurance gets away paying $10k instead of $24k (80% of $30k). Provider gets the business by being on insurer's provider list. Patient thinks "I'm glad I paid $20k for Insurance. My health-care-spend ended up being $40k instead of $100k." In fact, they'd have been better off without insurance, which would have only cost $30k.
are you claiming most people don't have deductibles and copays? or no in & out of network coverage. if so I'll call BS on this. I've had instances of being billed from out of network provider even though I went to in-network hospital. this is such a common occurrence that John Oliver did an episode on it.
