Many Americans are now faced with paying cash from their own pockets when it comes to health care procedures. Oftentimes it is because they can not afford the insurance or because their insurance will not cover certain medical costs. As the prices of healthcare continue to skyrocket, patients are often left at a disadvantage because the only resource they have about medical procedures and costs comes right from the doctor billing them. Even patients with insurance are finding they must meet higher deductibles and pay higher co-pay for treatment.

However, as technology tends to do, patients who need to know the fair price of different medical procedures can now use sites like Health Care Blue Book. This site in particular is free to use and available to help consumers make more informed decisions about financial and medical matters. It allows visitors to type in a medical procedure and find out the costs of the procedure itself as well as how much it will cost for hospitalization during recovery time. Consumers can search by zip code to get more accurate pricing.

The site search results also provide descriptions of what the procedures entail and a break down of different costs if applicable. The website covers hospital procedures both surgical and non-surgical, lab work, physician visits and care, cosmetic medical procedures, dental work, and even hearing aids.

In the Resource section of the Healthcare Blue Book, consumers can learn about healthcare, insurance, and pricing to get a better handle on their situation. There are several articles and a Frequently Asked Questions section to help people understand how things work, including the website itself.

Navigating the site is very easy and searches are simple to understand. You can also print off your specific search results to make it easier to discuss pricing and procedures with your doctor. In the interest of saving money and avoid being taken for a financial ride, the more consumers know about their own healthcare, the more likely they are to save money and hassle.

Healthcare Blue Book also provides resources for providers and employers. This is beneficial for both groups because patients who know what to expect are more likely to have the cash in hand and be ready and able to pay. For providers, this reduces the need for bill collections and allows them to advertise to cash-only patients who are looking for treatment. For employers, there are many tool available to support health care plans they are considering for employees as well as employee resources for those who are not eligible for coverage.