What if you went to King Soopers and there were no prices posted? You never have a clue what anything costs. You pick out a can of tomatoes and head to the check out. The clerk scans the can and the price comes up "$10"!!! For a can of tomatoes. You can't afford that. But wait. You have a special card. If you swipe the card the can is now 59 cents. How can that be possible? Is the store making any money on 59 cents? If they are, what's up with the $10? There's more - you had to pay $500 for that special card. Or maybe your employer bought you the card, so you think it's free.
Never mind that your employer didn't give you that $500 as a raise. You're blissfully ignorant of that fact. You now think you've got a great deal. Wow, you saved $9.41. You're just so thankful to the nice people who gave you that special card. Never mind that it actually cost you $500. You're grateful.
This is how medical insurance works. They make you grateful. How many times have you gotten a prescription and the receipt says "Your insurance company saved you $70." Wow, you think, I'm grateful. Never mind that you and your employer paid that insurance company $13,000 for your policy. You actually paid $13,000 + your co-pay for that prescription. You didn't save anything. You were robbed. But you're blissfully ignorant, because you have no idea how much money your employer flushes down the insurance hole every year. Money you'll never see as a raise.
It's a big reason no one considers just paying cash. They think the phony inflated price is what they'd have to pay if they didn't have insurance, and they're scared. Why medical providers and insurance companies are allowed to print this garbage is beyond me. Why are there two or three prices for one procedure? Why aren't individuals allowed to pay the extremely-low-but-apparently-acceptable "discounted" price? Actually they are allowed, but they have to argue and make a big stink about it to various clerks in the billing department before the charges are finally adjusted.
Why? Why is this kind of double pricing even legal?
Because they want you to be grateful. And to remain a grateful and scared customer. Because now you believe that without expensive medical insurance, you're in danger. Why don't we feel this way about buying a big screen TV or a new car or signing up for an expensive 2-year iPhone contract? Apparently we all feel we can afford those pricey indulgences. But medical care is just not something we think we can, or should have to, afford. Someone else is supposed to pay for that. Our job is to be grateful and to keep on paying those insurance premiums.