Released: October 22, 2006

Shop around before you get sick

Source: By Michelle Singletary, Washington Post (Free Registration)

As much as many consumers hate shopping for cars, that’s nothing compared with trying to price out a medical procedure or a routine visit to the doctor. There’s really no reason you shouldn’t get the best deal on a car. There are many resources available with the latest costs to buy a certain model and anything in it. You can find the price of a high-tech navigational system you’re dying to have or an engine block heater, whatever that is, which by the way costs $42 (invoice) on a 2007 Buick LaCrosse.

But try finding out the cost for a knee repair or giving birth by a Caesarean section. More people probably know the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden than the average cost of their health services.

In fact, one consumer health-care survey found that the typical consumer could predict the price of a Honda Accord to within $1,000, but was off by about $12,000 in estimating the average cost of a four-day hospital stay. People guessed an average of $7,762 when the cost was $20,000.

When it came to the cost of a routine doctor’s office visit, respondents guessed an average of $95, according to a survey by Harris Interactive for employee benefits provider Great-West Healthcare.

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