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I dropped something on my foot and after a week of pain went to a doctor recommended by my primary care physician. After an X-ray, and a two minute exam I was sent home with a plastic and foam boot and told to stay off the foot for six weeks due to a slight stress fracture. The bill for that visit was over $900. When I complained about the excessive costs the doctor told me he had to charge that much to get paid enough from the insurance company. He said the boot cost him a lot and he had to mark it up. I found the boot online for $75 - the doctor charged $500. Most of the cost of that visit came out of my pocket because of the deductible.
In the future I will always ask the costs before any service is provided at a doctor's office. This is one example of why our health care costs are out of control and we need a single payer option.