How Much Will That Medical Procedure Cost?

If you have health insurance, you probably don’t pay much attention to how much different medical procedures cost. But if you don’t have insurance or use out-of-network doctors, it’s helpful to know ahead of time so you don’t get stuck with an unexpected bill. Here’s the good news: A nonprofit called Fair Health has a website (fairhealthconsumer.org) where you can find estimates of the average prices charged for medical and dental procedures in your area.

I just looked up the cost of a physical therapy evaluation for my particular zip code. The chart showed the estimated charge, estimated reimbursement (which was dependent on my plan) and out-of-pocket charge to me. When I checked the costs for a gold crown, I was asked questions about the type of crown before getting a rough estimate of $1,300. Don’t forget to check out the Healthcare Resources section and the useful Glossary of Terms.