Yes, the doctor visit was outrageously expensive. But did you even try to find a cheaper one?

A survey by HealthMine, a wellness group, suggests that three-quarters of Americans don't compare prices when seeking medical services. The survey included 569 people enrolled in wellness programs.

If people assume that the cost of services is relatively inflexible — due either to regulations or market forces — they are sorely mistaken. Data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services showed that hospitals around the country often charge wildly different prices for the same service. An investigation by the New York Times cited a number of eye-popping disparities in prices among hospitals, including among those in the same area.

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