Transparency in Pricing in Healthcare .Actual prices vary from 100-300%

People are smart shoppers.They travel 25 miles or more to save 2000$ on Car prices.

But when it comes to expensive procedures-they don’t get written quote or explore other facilities nearby that charge less--American Colonoscopy & Endoscopy charges 750$--vs. 2500-5000$ for nearby facilities.

This facility is JCAHO certified and the specialist got Gastroenterology fellowship training for 3 years at The Cleveland Clinic,rated #2 by US News & World report.Dr. Mullick also received advanced endoscopy training for ERCP in the 7th year after 3 yrs.at Johns Hopkins and 3 years at the Cleveland Clinic. He has done over 15000 Colonoscopies,Endoscopy , E.R.C.P. in last 16 years.

This facility--Amer.Colonoscopy is located next to Geneva Commons.

They assume that all facilities or doctors charge the same. That is a wrong assumption.

You can call your insurance co. or call 630 232 2025 for different prices being charged by different facilities.

If you don’t shop,you could end up having higher premiums next year.

NBC Today show Matt Lauer --in a show said that a man from Chicago traveled to Oregon because he got quotes of 3500$ for Colonoscopy in Chicago.

We are trying to improve transparency in prices in medical procedures.

But what can you do?

1) Shop around

2) If your gastroenterologist suggests colonoscopy or endoscopy,pl.ask him for written quote for all costs including facility cost.He may give you runaround or other reasons to dissuade you to shop around,like you won’t find any better facility. Just say-- I will think about it and then call 630 232 2025 and ask for their written quotes .Pl.note that they will want to ensure that you are not working for other gastroenterologist.If you like the price,you may have to go for an appointment for the specialists to know your full medical problems as these procedures require special care for certain patients.Anesthesiologist’s also want a form filled for medical problems of every patient,so they can be well prepared. These are J C A H O certification rules.

Also pl. note that sometimes insurance may not cover these procedures.In that case you may get a bill for 4700-4800$ from other facilities. Example: You are 42 and you read the article in WomensHealth magazine that had stories of 4 women between 28-36 yr.age,who went thru the long pains of Colon Cancer.Candace from Chicago had to have her 90% colon removed,which made her unfit for bus driver job and she was fired. After reading this tragic article-you decide to get Colon Cancer checkup early to have peace of mind that you are not among those who can get cancer before 50 yr.age. Now the insurance co.will not cover unless your doctor can prove you have symptoms.But 750$ charge for facility along with Gastroenterologist,anesthesiologist fees,you may be willing to spend to avoid this Risk as suggested in Womens health magazine in addition to Katie Couric-who lost her husband at 42 yr.from Colon Cancer. However 5000$ plus doctors fees at the other facilities may be too expensive for you.

It is recommended that if someone close to you had Colon Cancer,then you should go for screening at 10 years before that person got Colon Cancer. Example: Katie Couric’s children will be getting their Colonoscopy at 30 or 31 as their father got colon cancer at 41yr.age.

Dr.OZ found a precancerous polyp at 50. So his children will need to get screening at 40 yr. for early detection of polyp. So if some one close to you had Colon Cancer at 54,then you need to get screening at 44yr.age for safety and early detection of polyp. Insurance co. will give you excuses to wait--but for 750$--are you willing to take risk?

3) Get your Colonoscopy or Endoscopy at American Colonoscopy and Endoscopy center in Geneva,Il. Guaranteed to save at least 1750$ per procedure--and perhaps more. This is close to St.Charles,Il. Call them at 630 232 2025 and ask for prices. Give it a try--you could save 1750-4000$.