hospitals and insurance

I was listening to some radio talkshow the other day (don't know what - I was in my aunt's car) and the guy was talking about how charity hospitals are tax-exempt on the basis that they are "charitable" or "not for profit" (how does that work??) but how they usually charge 4 times as much for people who don't have insurance as for people who do. They make deals with the insurance companies or something.

So if somebody with insurance has something done, let's say it costs $250. If they pay 20% (insurance pays 80%) then they pay $50. Now if another person has the exact same thing done, but they don't have insurance, they are charged $1000. BIG DIFFERENCE!

I think there ought to be a standard price at the hospital. This procedure = $$$. Regardless of insurance or not. Otherwise, these "not for profit" hospitals should be stripped of their status. People who can't get or don't want insurance shouldn't be penalized. Insurance is a racket anyway, but they have created all these situations that pretty much "force" people to have to get it! Tweet