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

The fuel to operate one of my trucks only costs 4 dollars per gallon, which will run that truck for about 8 miles. 

So the ‘cost to operate the truck’ might seem like 50 cents per mile. 

But I have to pay someone to drive it, have to pay to maintain it, have to pay taxes on it, have to pay registration and license fees on it, and had to pay to purchase it initially. 

All those other expenses mean I have to charge a lot more than 50 cents per mile.