<story><title>Hospital prices are about to go public in the U.S.</title><url>https://www.ajc.com/news/national/hospital-prices-are-about-public/2jXYHgoR5CObBj6fSJQQUO/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>karmelapple</author><text>I was in a hospital in Singapore recently, and the prices for doctor consultation fees, staying in a room, and even certain tests were listed right at the front of the emergency room desk.&lt;p&gt;After the patient I was with was stabilized, the nurse confirmed with us verbally what the rough cost should be for the rest of what the doctor prescribed, and asked if we wished to proceed. We could have said no and gone elsewhere if we wanted, since the patient at least was relatively stable and we knew what was wrong.&lt;p&gt;I want this experience to be the norm in the USA.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>Holybeds</author><text>Where I live you know the cost before you go to the doctor since you will only pay a symbolic sum of 30 USD even if the visit ends up with something like a life long cancer treatment. If you need medicine you will pay at most 120 USD per year regardless of the costs.&lt;p&gt;The idea that your access to healthcare should be linked to your own or your parents financial is crazy.</text></comment>
<story><title>Hospital prices are about to go public in the U.S.</title><url>https://www.ajc.com/news/national/hospital-prices-are-about-public/2jXYHgoR5CObBj6fSJQQUO/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>karmelapple</author><text>I was in a hospital in Singapore recently, and the prices for doctor consultation fees, staying in a room, and even certain tests were listed right at the front of the emergency room desk.&lt;p&gt;After the patient I was with was stabilized, the nurse confirmed with us verbally what the rough cost should be for the rest of what the doctor prescribed, and asked if we wished to proceed. We could have said no and gone elsewhere if we wanted, since the patient at least was relatively stable and we knew what was wrong.&lt;p&gt;I want this experience to be the norm in the USA.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>geomark</author><text>That&amp;#x27;s similar to my experience in Thailand. Everyone in my family has had one or more hospital stays for illness, surgery or injury. Prices for common procedures are posted. After initial evaluation there is a discussion about what the estimated total cost will be.&lt;p&gt;I would never again want to have medical treatment in the USA.</text></comment>