Jul 1, 2026
It might be common to comparison-shop for flights, hotels and TVs every day. But what about healthcare? For one Utah couple, shopping around for an MRI saved them nearly $1,800.
After developing leg pain and numbness, audio engineer John Crowley was quoted $2,200 through insurance, or $1,600 in cash, for an MRI at a local imaging center.
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A few phone calls later, Crowley found another provider about 90 minutes away offering the exact same scan, but this time for just $399.
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“It felt like extortion. You’re going to take us for an extra $600 just so we could put that toward our deductible?” his wife, Stacy Cox, told USA Today.
The couple’s story is just one example of Americans with health insurance finding themselves comparison-shopping for medical care as premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs continue to climb.
Why identical medical tests can carry wildly different price tags
The couple had relied on enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies to keep premiums affordable. But when those subsidies expired, their monthly bill soared from about $500 to more than $2,100, which was an increase they couldn’t afford.
They switched to a lower-cost, short-term health plan with a $10,000 deductible. While it cut their premiums, it left them paying nearly every medical expense out of pocket. So when Crowley needed an MRI, the couple made the three hour round trip to the imaging center charging $399 instead of paying the $2,200.
The results of the 2025 West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index found fewer than half of U.S. adults can consistently afford health care and prescription drugs.
Another challenge is that patients often don’t know what they’ll owe until after treatment, because of a lack of transparency. Though the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released rules establishing price transparency requirements for healthcare services.
The same procedure can cost more depending on where it’s performed. According to findings from the Health Care Cost Institute, some hospital-owned imaging centers charge more than a physician’s office, for example.
For Crowley and Cox, the financial strain has meant cutting vacations, restaurant meals and streaming subscriptions. Despite running successful small businesses, the pair are now considering traditional jobs simply to gain access to employer-sponsored health insurance.
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How to lower your own medical bills
The couple isn’t alone in facing high healthcare-related expenses. Here are five ways experts say consumers can help keep medical bills under control:
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Shop around before booking care. Prices for the same test or procedure can vary between providers. Hospitals are now required to post pricing information, and many insurers offer online cost-estimator tools that let patients compare costs before making an appointment.
Ask whether paying cash is cheaper. Some providers offer discounts for self-pay patients. If you have insurance, however, ask whether that payment can be applied toward your deductible before choosing that option.
Review every medical bill carefully. Billing errors that get missed can make a big difference in what you pay. Take a careful look over your itemized statements to help uncover duplicate charges, coding mistakes or fees that don’t belong.
Take advantage of free preventive care. Many recommended screenings, annual checkups and vaccines are covered at no additional cost under the Affordable Care Act when patients use in-network providers. Catching health problems early can also help avoid much larger medical bills later.
Ask questions. If your insurer rejects a claim or you receive an unexpectedly big bill, you have the right to appeal.
Cox and Crowley’s case shows how important shopping around can be. When the price of one MRI ranges from $399 to $2,200, finding affordable care makes all the difference.
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Freelance writer with an economic development and consulting background.
