It's becoming an illuminating argument. So let's dive right in.

That newly redesigned Explorer is sharp; but to get all you want (gotta have Leather!) it's around $60K. Do twenty percent down, so $12k. Don't worry about financing. Your new UCO, or Universal Car Ownership plan, will handle the payments. But your insurance company, "Atlantic and Pacific Automotive Ownership Company" (A&P for short!) has to make a profit, so instead of about $675 per month, it's more like $2,575. Ah, and it’s permanent, not just for 72 months. This “insurance” is in addition to your other car insurance, the real insurance. But it's okay, it's just deducted from your paycheck twice a month, so it hurts, it hurts b-a-a-a-a-d...but it's not killing you...yet. Of course, pair this deduction to your Health insurance, and what the heck is left for ‘take home’ pay?

Now here's the good part...eh, not for you. Fast-forward to post-warranty. Time for an oil change. Great—all you need to worry about (for now) is your $25.00 co-pay, just like at Dr. Gno for your flu-like symptoms last month. Next month, you’ll experience a vibrating, humming noise. It’s your hub bearing. But your brakes and rotors need changing, too. Now this is a specialist, so the co-pay is $50.00. Not so bad. No need to even ASK what the total charge is. The noise is gone, and you go home.

Now, the bill arrives for the balance of the oil & lube. You added wipers and a new serpentine belt, so the actual balance is $399.83 (Think this is HIGH? Remember, your "insurance" company, A&P negotiated the 'rates' for car care, no one is asking how much). Ah, you forgot your deductible. You’re P-O’ed, but it won’t interfere with dinner plans this weekend.

Hold on a minute, what’s that hub and brake job bill gonna be? You got the idea: it’s also subject to your deductible. The bill arrives: $5,297.44. Not good. You thought you had “Universal Car Ownership” coverage. This new deal might be a rip-off.

As Charles Silver and David A. Hyman so aptly illustrate in “Overcharged: Why Americans Pay Too Much For Health Care” this is the crazy system by which we pay for Healthcare—NOT car purchases or maintenance. The car market is VERY competitive: dealer incentives, manufacturer rebates, zero percent interest for 48, 60, even 72 months! And service IS competitive, whether it seems like it or not: $19.95 oil changes, $89.95 [lifetime pads] brake jobs, and on and on. There’s even gobs of “providers” and a treasure-trove of help if you wanna…you know…DIY. Some luxury brands (with luxury prices) even throw in the maintenance, including the brake pads.

Much analysis such as that of Messrs. Silver and Hyman is looking anew at the Healthcare economy, and asking: How long can we go on NOT asking the cost of Healthcare in advance, as if we’re NOT gonna be paying for it? Health Insurance payroll deductions ARE getting to be much more than a nuisance. To make matters worse, those sky-high deductibles are leaving all of us vulnerable to unanticipated bills, for sizable purchases we didn’t bother to ask about beforehand.

If your doctor wants to send you or a family member for an MRI or a CT-Scan at Brand X Imaging it would help to know the difference between Brand X and their 6 competitors in your area. And, once their prices are all known, they’ll start competing for your business. How about the anesthesiologist for that little procedure you need? If there was a resource to see what he's charging others, you might a) ask for a discount in advance, b) check that he's in-network like the hospital, c) get an all-inclusive price from the hospital in advance, or d) some combination of all of the above.

DOC$ is here to start building a shoppers’ guide to Healthcare expenses. Please look at our LinkedIn page DocsHealth Inc. Then watch our video below explaining our concept, and consider joining our beta-test as a user. Thanks for taking a minute!