Hospital prices are public record. Most people don't know that.
Federal law requires every hospital in the United States to publish machine-readable price files listing what they charge each insurer for every procedure. These files went live in 2021. They're large, dense, and formatted for computers, not patients.
The rates shown on this site come from those files, downloaded directly from hospital servers and processed to show human-readable ranges. We cite the original source file for every number.
The No Surprises Act, which took effect in 2022, gives patients the right to a written cost estimate before any scheduled procedure. The estimate must come from the hospital within 3 business days of your request. It must list the procedure codes, the expected charges from each provider, and what your plan is expected to pay.
If your final bill exceeds the Good Faith Estimate by more than $400, you have formal dispute rights. CMS can fine providers $300 per violation for non-compliance.
We don't predict your out-of-pocket cost. That depends on your specific plan, your deductible status, and your cost-sharing structure. We show what hospitals charge insurers. Your cost comes from your plan's explanation of benefits after the procedure.
We don't collect any health information. The letter generator works entirely in your browser. We collect your email only to send the letter.