Study Finds Even Most Doctors Struggle to Estimate Out of Pocket Costs for Patients

By Consumers For Quality Care, on November 29, 2021

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, a new study from the Journal of American Medicine found that even most doctors in the United States have difficulty estimating out-of-pocket costs for their patients.

In a survey of 371 physicians across three main specialties, 79 percent of them provided inaccurate estimates on how much a prescription would cost a patient throughout the year. These prices can potentially change throughout the year depending on whether a patient has met their deductible.

Health care costs have become so confusing that even doctors can’t accurately predict costs for medical care. CQC urges providers to improve price transparency for consumers so they can make informed decisions about their medical care.