&quot;The problem with asking patients to shop based on price is that the penalty for making the wrong choice is much more devastating than with just about any other good or service.&quot;<p>Yet we do it with our sight when choosing laser surgery.  I get the feeling that better institutions would win out and care would improve.<p>I think preventative care is a separate issue.  The government, instead of passing that horrible bill (and yes, I read every page and cussed at every will be decided later line) could have just subsidized a yearly examination, 2 teeth cleanings, expanded health saving accounts, and attached a &quot;disaster clause&quot; to all insurance where the government picks up any cost for an incident over $100,000 (changes the cost of insurance by providing a cap).