The other element you're missing is that medical services aren't transacted at a single standard price list for all patients. Instead, a huge range of pricing systems are used depending on the context. Some are mandated by government regulation (Medicare reimbursement rates), many are governed by negotiations between providers (hospitals, HMOs, doctors' groups, pharmaceutical providers, medical device/service providers), and an insurer, payment provider, or other group.
Guess who gets the short end of the stick in those negotiations? It's the individual health care care consumer. Who has no bargaining leverage and is often incurring services at a time when there's no other option (accident, injury, illness).
Guess who gets the short end of the stick in those negotiations? It's the individual health care care consumer. Who has no bargaining leverage and is often incurring services at a time when there's no other option (accident, injury, illness).