Awesome.. we are going into the mandatory discussion.



I dont think you should be mandated to buy insurance. See Auto insurance isnt obligatory no matter what. There are tons of new yorkers who dont have auto insurance. Same for the people in other cities who dont drive. You choose to drive you need auto insurance.



Regarding the one price for all scheme. Sounds good in theory but much like Walmart. They get better prices cause they have what economists call scale. Get us a better deal and we will put 100k customers in our plan and they will come to your hospital.



Regarding 25% up front, there are 2 problems with that. 1) EMTALA and 2) no one knows what the up front cost is.



Also, the OP had the option of not paying like all the other people. You pay the price for not paying. Also, do I think some of the costs are insane? Yep. When my wife was getting care they charged us $80 something for a bag of LR, I know those things cost about $6 a piece. Freakin nuts. I should have run down to the ED myself and got one.



In the end there are problems and big ones but your best bet is to get you and your family insured. This is your OPTION if you chose not to then YOU take the responsibility.



I think hospitals should post prices of things but not some discounted rate. The full monty whatever that is and then they can work with people to give discounts if they want.