That used to be true. I'm not sure if it still is. A larger issue today appears to be fake pricing and the consolidation of medical providers into larger and larger groups.
It is nearly impossible now to determine actual prices, and real "costs" for medical services due to the wildly inflated prices everywhere in the system. Much of the high cost of medical care is actually faked, with hospitals and others willingly accepting pennies on the dollar for their services. But the fake prices and "discounts" are what insurance companies and hospital groups use to force consumers to have insurance.
Rampant over-use of expensive tests and medications is another major cost driver. Few generalists practice today, so diagnosis becomes a series of expensive tests by a whole panel of specialists.
I just saw my doctor after seeing him a month ago.
“I got the bill from last time - $200 for that visit - 15 minutes or so. How come it was that high!?”
“Oh - that was with our new XYZ Health Group? I don’t know how they bill that. $200 bucks!? That’s crazy.”
So he didn’t even seem to know what things cost!!?? (I think he is part of a new doctors group, I don’t recall the name of the group on the bill from previous visits.)
I told him that one thing was for sure, no matter how things go in Washington D.C., obamacare wasn’t going to last.
“Yes - one way or another things are going to change, that’s for sure.”