How can I get the cost of my healthcare?

 It is remarkably difficult to find the cost of medical services.  Many new technology providers along with certain government regulations are finally shining a bit of light on the cost of medical services.

Medicare rates have been published for years and provide a key cost benchmark.  However, contracts between private insurers and providers are under seal and closely guarded.  Those ‘negotiated rates’ are used to determine the price paid to the given provider for medical services. 

Many services have a copay attached to them which gives you cost certainty.  But, for services that are subject to the deductible or subject to coinsurance, cost may be an important driver to your decision.  There are two components you must know if you want to accurately calculate what the costs (both total costs and your patient responsibility):  1) What services will be done, and 2) What the negotiated rates between your insurance carrier and your provider for those services are.

Determining what services will be done can realistically be obtained by asking your provider what will be done during the visit and requiring you approve before other services are rendered.  Insurers will not release negotiated rates, but there are a couple of alternatives.  You can call your insurer and ask the Claims Department for Usual and Customary Rates (UCR) for that service in that area.  This is an average cost for the given area.  Alternatively, you can use a free online tool like Healthcare Bluebook to get an estimate.