6. Prices are often unknown at time of service.

No amount of research can make up for hospitals that haven't decided how much your surgery will cost until after the fact.

I recently paid a hospital invoice, and received a receipt covered in "PENDING FINAL BILL". I can't tell if the hospital will refund me some excess, or charge an extra $1000.

To extend the metaphor elsewhere in this thread, it's like going into a garage and being told that an oil change will cost between $40 and $400. It depends. We'll let you know.