| Hello John, President Trump recently outlined his health care plan to bring more price transparency to our health care system. That was music to our ears. AFP has long pushed for patients to know what they are paying for health care as part of our Personal Option health care plan. How surprise health care bills devastate countless Americans: - Imagine dealing with the stress of a chronic illness when a surprise medical bill comes in the mail that you didn’t plan for.
- Dealing with the stress of a medical treatment is bad enough. Now you also have the stress of paying extra medical bills.
Bottom line: This lack of price transparency leaves many Americans feeling helpless when dealing with our health care system. Gas stations, cellphone companies, grocery stores, clothing stores, etc., all try to lure customers by advertising how much lower their prices are than the competition. There is nothing like that in health care! Think about it. Instead, prices are hidden. Here’s an example: - Imagine you go to your primary care doctor at her office for a routine checkup.
- Your copay is usually $40.
- However, a few weeks later, you receive a bill for $250.
Why is that? Because large hospital systems often buy independent doctors’ offices. (Hospital consolidation is a big problem we’ve written to you about before.) Even if the office is miles away from the main hospital, it can legally be reclassified as a “hospital outpatient department,” which triggers a “facility fee” on top of the doctor’s fee. And don’t bother looking for a sign on the door warning you that entering the building costs an extra $250. It won’t be there. 💡 The solution: Americans deserve to know what a service will cost before they get it. - With the Personal Option, you decide how you get treated, who treats you, and how you’re covered. This is based on the simple notion that Americans like you should have more control over your own health care.
- When patients are in the driver’s seat, they shop for value, and doctors and hospitals must publish, and compete on, their cash-pay prices. Just like at the grocery store and the gas station. The more information you have, the better.
But even a posted price is no good if it’s too high. The Personal Option will arm you with powerful cost-saving tools such as tax-free health savings accounts and direct primary care. This will force providers to compete for your business, which means lower prices and better service. If price transparency and lower prices sound good to you, let your representatives know you want a Personal Option! | 
