Medical Price Hikes Affect Everyday Americans

Many insured patients are upset about the fact that they are experiencing medical price hikes for common procedures based on service location. A recent analysis from a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association subsidiary found that procedures, such as colonoscopies, receive price hikes up to 60% more when they are performed in a hospital rather than at an ambulatory surgery center. Hospitals charge more for these services simply because their patients don’t know better.

Alarming statistics from research released between 2017 and 2022 showed the price for a routine colonoscopy screening was $1,124 on average in hospital outpatient departments, 32% higher than the $925 allowed in ambulatory surgery centers last year. For mammograms, the allowed cost was $287 in hospital settings, which was also 32% higher than the physician’s office.

Why Medical Price Hikes Matter

The report underscores the argument for site-neutral pricing policies that pay the same for services, regardless of the setting. Why pay more for services that can be delivered in a less-intensive setting? That will only result in higher cost for healthcare and more out-of-pocket costs across the board for consumers. It also illustrates the need for more robust pricing transparency from providers, especially hospitals.

If consumers were able to easily access pricing information for all the procedures that they need, they would be able to shop around for the best price. This would benefit consumers and many smaller providers that would be able to compete with hospital systems on a much more even playing ground. Recently, the House passed the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act to address this issue. If signed into law, the bill would codify price transparency rules for hospitals and insurance companies. Furthermore, it would expand requirements that labs, imaging services, and ambulatory surgical centers make their prices publicly available to patients. 

Solidarity Can Help

Our ministry approaches this problem differently than traditional health insurance companies. We are proud to be a health sharing ministry that negotiates directly with providers. This allows us to deliver high-quality healthcare to patients at an affordable rate. We help our Members avoid paying egregious overcharges by directing them to more affordable options.

Most importantly, Solidarity will negotiate the treatment cost on your behalf no matter what doctor or hospital your family chooses, so long as the care provided meets the sharing guidelines. This allows you to avoid the kind of medical price hikes that traditional insurance tries to foist off on their customers. In 2023 we saved an average of 64% off of what providers billed. This incredible savings allows us to share all of our Members’ medical needs while keeping our program truly affordable.

Those with pre-existing conditions can rest assured that their medical conditions will be treated with Solidarity, after a waiting period. After just a year of continuous Membership, we share each pre-existing condition 100%. More serious conditions are limited to to $25,000 of treatment for each of the next two years. After three years of Membership, we no longer consider the condition to be pre-existing. This allows us to strike a balance between being good stewards of the funds that our Members contribute and welcoming people into our community who are not perfectly healthy.

Anyone can apply for Membership at any time with a one-time $135 application fee! We do not have an open enrollment period. So check out our program today, and make the switch to a healthcare option that fights for ethical pricing! To learn more, click on the banner at the bottom of the page.

Join the Movement

If you’re not already a Member, we encourage you to look into how you can provide ethical, cost-effective healthcare for you and your family. Click the banner below for more information.

We strive to provide an ethical, community-driven alternative to traditional health insurance. Through direct Member-to-Member sharing, Members can access quality healthcare services for many medical needs while preserving their family’s financial, physical, and spiritual health, all at once. Members never need to worry about their healthcare dollars funding immoral medical procedures. We promote a holistic approach to healthcare, emphasizing the importance of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

To learn more about our community and how to join, click the banner below!