The costs and types of medical procedures could be dependent on the location in which they are being performed.

So you go to the hospital, you have a successful surgical procedure and everything goes well. You are healthy again and relieved to return home. Several month later, you finally get the bill and your eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

In your opinion, the hospital has charged you way too much, and your insurance has covered way too little. You return to the hospital to see if you can renegotiate the price.

You ask yourself, "How is this even possible?" The amount is over the top.

But there are some hospitals that do charge multiple times more than other hospitals for the same medical procedure. Many patients are not aware of such “inscrutable” costs or did not consider costs when making an “emergency” decision and were not be able to consider other hospitals to get a better price.

A Health Affairs study reported the “highest markups” occurred at least 50 hospitals, and the overcharge was 1,000 percent or 10 times the costs at comparable hospitals.

Yup, that’s right.

One of the hospitals that charge the patients 12.6 times is the North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview, Florida.

The Washington Post reported they were price-gouging because they can. These are the hospitals that have the highest markup of all 5,000 hospitals in the United States. When it costs the hospital $100, it is not uncommon for charges to be $1,000.

Most of these “highest-markup” hospitals are in Florida and the South. U.S. hospitals typically charge 3.4 times the normal cost, so you may be paying an LOT more than you expected depending on the location of your surgery. The health-care providers can charge patients whatever they want because the federal government “does not regulate [these] prices”. There is a “lack of market competition,” which has led to patients receiving expensive bills. The only exception to this is Maryland and West Virginia, who “set” their “hospital rates”.

If you are uninsured:
You’re going to have to pay the bill by yourself, as “no one” will be “negotiating on your behalf.” The people with no insurance may receive some “discounts” at certain types of hospitals, especially if you can pay in cash at the time of the visit. But you’re most likely going to pay the FULL amount, according to the Health Affairs’ study. If a hospital has to send your bill to collections, you could have devastating results such as lowered credit scores or eventually having to declare bankruptcy. Knowing that health care could be unaffordable, some people will choose to avoid some medical care.

If you are insured:
Health insurance costs regularly increase because of the fast increasing hospital prices.

If you have an insurance network:
Your insurance provider “contracts” with certain hospitals, and may not cover a very expensive surgery, not in the predefined networking. You may receive an "Out-of-Network" bill from the hospital in which your insurance company does not cover, and you will have to pay most or all of the very expensive bill on your own.

Collectively, the hospital system will often charge the highest prices to the most vulnerable patients and those with the least market power. Did you know that location could be the most important factor in surgery costs? As a patient, it is important to do some research on the hospital and look for medical data ahead of time. Try to determine how much you will be paying, what is covered by your insurance provider if you have one, and the success rate of the surgeon and medical outcomes. Finding that information will be tough, as many hospitals are unwilling to provide that information.

Your primary care physician may offer you a limited number of options for surgery. Does this mean you don't have options? Is there a way to find out the costs for a surgery before the procedure? As a patient, how can you solve this dilemma and find those better options? How can you find options that are inexpensive, but promise quality?

SurgiPrice offers a comprehensive solution that gives you multiple surgery options and gathers important outcomes data and pricing ahead of time so you can be empowered to make an informed decision. You can save money without “compromising” the quality of your surgery. SurgiPrice will provide you a “bundle bid” package that consists of the fees for the facility, surgeon, and anesthesia fees. It may surprise you to learn that the facility fee may be more than your surgeon's fee. SurgiPrice will also provide medical outcomes, information about the surgeon’s experience and expertise, success rate and other important factors for making a decision.

SurgiPrice will work with you to find the best option that suits your needs. SurgiPrice will find several surgeons who fulfill your requirements and needs based on location and costs. You can also talk to as many surgeons as possible and choose the best option for your surgery. Feel confident and empowered about your medical decisions.

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