Healthcare Affordability in the United States: A Call for Stronger Reinforcement on Price Transparency

Medical expenses constitute a majority of United States citizens’ financial concerns, with four in ten adults reporting debt due to medical or dental bills. Billing is at the heart of the unease surrounding medical expenses. Healthcare facilities often surprise their patients with hidden fees and additional costs, leading to 1 in 5 individuals receiving a hospital bill they either do not agree with or cannot afford. The lack of transparency within the healthcare sphere regarding the costs of treatments and services continues to contribute to a lack of healthcare affordability within the United States. This proposal mandates government-funded healthcare facilities to provide a document that lists the costs of all treatments and services offered in that facility. This document should be presented to the patient before treatment, in non-emergency situations. This can mitigate the effects of surprise billings by government-operated facilities to ensure healthcare affordability and cost transparency.