Survey: Many Americans seeking cost information before care

More than half of Americans (56%) have tried to get information on out-of-pocket costs before getting care, according to a new survey by Public Agenda. About 40% sought price information before a medical test, 38% before visiting a specialist, 37% before visiting a primary care doctor, and 25% before a hospital stay, the survey found. People with higher deductibles were more likely to seek price information, including 67% of those with deductibles between $500 and $3,000 and 74% of those with deductibles exceeding $3,000. The research was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Many of these findings are encouraging, but of course we know that even though people may be seeking out and hoping to use health care price information, the information they are getting may not be personally meaningful or actionable,” said RWJF Program Officer Andrea Ducas.