Example: Imatinib is listed anywhere between $3k and $19k retail depending on the store you buy it (source: GoodRX). With insurance, you would never pay this amount. Without insurance you can use a coupon provider like GoodRX to reduce the retail price to as low as $120. I am told, but have no proof, that if you have no insurance and no coupon, the store will provide a “cash purchase value” that matches or is very close to the coupon price.
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This is all setup by the insurance companies there is infact a ledger agreed upon for hospital services that is used to make it seem like the insurance company saves you money, when really you are just getting the price you would have paid if insurance never existed, of you use your insurance. However, if you don’t use it then you get the made-up price to warrant the existence of insurance. Literally insurance companies give premiums to medical companies for taking their insurance then require they use their prices to justify the insurance. The exact same thing is currently happening in the veterinary industry.
A vet that doesn’t take insurance, the vet bill for check ups is about $80, this can include some testing too.
A vet that takes insurance but you don’t have it, starts at $180 for just a checkup, no testing.
The only way we come back from this, is to eliminate insurance and settle the prices back down.
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