Cost comparison – it can be an effective way of saving money. Whether it's comparing the price of a cup of coffee – Starbucks versus Tim Horton's, for instance – or comparing gas prices in different parts of the city or state, checking out cost differences is, for many, just part of a regular day.
But what about comparing medical costs? Would you have any idea what, say, a hip replacement might cost at the hospital you go to?
If you could tease out those prices and compare them, you might find yourself wondering: Why do some hospitals in the same city or state charge thousands of dollars more for the same procedure? And why is it so tough to get those prices?
Those are the questions Ilene Wolff, a writer with DBusiness, explored in a recent story.
To compare prices of services at different hospitals, visit healthcarebluebook.com. To look up hospital quality information, visit hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.
Listen to the full interview above.
