As long as there are middle men (insurance companies), rampant healthcare provider fraud and greedy big pharm at work, it is never going to be possible to keep the costs in check. Universal Health Care may not be perfect  but it is the only answer. One shopper, one buyer, one price negotiator.  This is what we pay for an MRI-period ! This is what a hip replacement surgery costs-period! This is what we pay for BP Diabetes and Statin drugs-period!