Health care prices should be transparent

My personal experience is that is very difficult to find the price of many health care procedures. Some procedures (like MRIs) are in a competitive environment and prices can easily be found on the internet or with a phone call. However, it is difficult to find the prices of many routine procedures. When I ask about price, I seldom get a concrete answer. As a consumer, I am interested in the full price and the price I will have to pay with my insurance. Opaque prices make it easier for providers to confuse consumers, price discriminate, and take advantage of desperate people. One simple step to make health care more affordable would be a requirement for health care providers to provide a menu of services and prices. I realize that complications arise and selling health care is not the same as selling hotdogs, but providers could do a better job at revealing prices before the procedure is performed. A government regulation making prices clear and accessible would give consumers the the ability to shop around. This would put downward pressure on prices.