eli5: if an operational cost of an MRI scan is $50-75, why does it cost up to $3500 to a patient?

Question

Explain like I’m European.

In: Other

Answer 1

You’re also paying for the cost of the machine, the time it takes the technician to scan you, the time it takes the doctors/pathologists to go over the scans, and of course some of that goes to the hospital administration, etc. Like when you go to a restaurant, the individual ingredients that make up your meal are less than $15, but you’re paying for someone to cook it, bring it to you, and managers and owners need a cut to pay rent and themselves.