I mirror this concern that the US health care system has no price transparency. When I had my shoulder operated on I tried to find out what my liabilities were. The hospital and other places were able to tell me what percentage my co-pay was but none could give me even a ballpark figure as to what my surgery would cost. I essentially had the operation not knowing what I would be up for.

As a private system it fails in price transparency. As a consequence ringing around other hospitals and other surgeons to price shop was not possible. I could not judge or rate the services based on cost.