A new price comparison tool launched by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) could set a new industry standard for individuals shopping for healthcare. Many are accustomed to seeing platforms that allow users to compare insurance rates: premiums, co-pays and other medical insurance figures. However, this new tool shatters expectations by allowing the general public to compare the actual cost of procedures between different doctors and hospitals.
For example, a user who is in the market for a knee replacement might find that at North Carolina Specialty Hospital, the cost of the operation is $20,300. At Duke Raleigh Hospital, the same procedure costs $23,438, and at UNC, the total price falls between $29,000 and $36,000. The pioneering aspect is that users from the general public, not just BCBSNC members, can view the rates. Dan Munro, a healthcare innovation contributor for Forbes, wrote that the platform could "disrupt" existing paradigms of selecting procedures. After publishing an article on Forbes.com, Munro took to LinkedIn to emphasize what a groundbreaking moment this is for individuals weighing health care options.
"Full credit goes to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) for their bold vision," he writes on the professional networking site. "This cannot have been easy. For decades, in‒network pricing…has been a closely guarded secret. They were considered proprietary—and serious legal effort was expended to ensure their secrecy ‒ often including non-disclosure agreements with serious penalties for breech."
For decades, healthcare providers have been reticent to discuss the total actual cost of procedures with patients, particularly during the "bidding" process, and certainly not with people who don't pay for the plans reflected in the rates. For people who are aging in place, the cost of assistance and other expenses associated with home health care are significantly higher than the price of caregiving technology. Soon, the disparity in your region could be easier for individuals to size up for themselves.
At Independa, our intuitive Angela™ platform provides an easy-to-use interface for caregivers and care recipients to connect. With messaging, photo sharing, appointment reminders and other handy alerts, our technology is available through the convenience of an LG TV. As you make health care decisions, never miss a scheduled doctor's appointment with our easy-to-use system.
