A Common Blood Test Can Cost $11 or Almost $1k

Re:A Common Blood Test Can Cost $11 or Almost $1k by BurningFrog on Wednesday May 01, 2019 @11:20AM (#19797860)

> These things happen all the time in real world free unregulated markets. The seller looks at you, tries to understand how much you can afford and what are your alternatives right then, and to get the highest price possible.

But that is not at all what I'm asking about. You clearly didn't read the post I commented on.

If my basement is flooding and I sound rich and dumb to the plumber I call, I might get quoted triple the price of one of his regular customers, sure.

But there won't be a Plumbing Benefit Manager company as a middle man that has a "negotiated special hourly $800 rate" with the plumber so I don't have to pay the "official $9340 rate".

That sort of complex plunder reeks of regulation to me. I can't imagine how it arises. Which is why I asked.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:A Common Blood Test Can Cost $11 or Almost $1k by danmaz74 on Wednesday May 01, 2019 @12:05PM (#19798442)

So what looks bad to you isn't the fact that a medical company will try to get all your money when you're most vulnerable, but the fact that they need to resort to a middle man to be able to do that in the face of regulation? Cool.

[ Parent | on HN ]