Patently false.  Try it some time.  I have offered up my Credit Card twice in lieu of insurance card, negotiated, and received 50% discount from what the scan provider was going to charge my insurance company.  The hassle of reimbursement from my insurance company is not worth it as it only saves the insurance company money at my time cost.  They don't care.  They don't reduce my premiums for being conscientious.  The big cost is right there in the table that that insurance company employee is looking at at that moment so fine.  Fine with me too, first high-priced scan meets deductible instead of needing three scans at my actual cost.

The scan provider feels the same way. Amex or insurance paperwork and wait?  They could eliminate a large portion of their staff if everyone just paid at the counter.

Yes, with no insurance my out of pocket cost would have been higher but the bill could have been a lot less.