Today, the reality is that health care costs are rising beyond the reach of most households, and the number of uninsured is at a record high.

While over 3.2 million Floridians have no insurance, many more have inadequate insurance coverage, which leaves them paying for services out-of-pocket. For some, this can lead to deep financial debt and even bankruptcy. As a result, many who need care are deferring treatment until they have more severe and costly problems.

There are a number of steps that lawmakers should take to make health care more affordable for those who pay out-of-pocket. But, there is one simple step that they should, and can, take immediately to foster the competition and transparency needed to lower prices. 

Public Accountability

We should require that all medical providers make price information available to the public. In every other business, the consumer knows the price before they receive a service, but not with health care.

“Consumers need information, and the one place they really need it is when pricing health care—where costs really add up,” said Florida PIRG Consumer Advocate Brad Ashwell. “Requiring medical providers to unveil price information so that consumers can comparison-shop is a common-sense step that could stimulate competition and lower costs.”

Florida PIRG, along with other members of the HealthCHECK Coalition, is calling on lawmakers to support legislation that would inject competition into the health care marketplace by making price information for common medical procedures available to the public before consumers receive their bill.