>>A good start would be if the medical industry in the US were run like normal businesses with transparent and consistent pricing.

People keep saying this, but I don't see how that helps in the slightest if you have had an accident and need help now.

Or for non-urgent care - something is wrong, you don't know what, you go to two doctors, one recommends a set of tests for $5000, the other a different set for $10,000, how does price transparency help you here in any way shape or form?

Edit: to be clear, this isn't meant to be a comment against price transparency. My point is that I don't think that's what the issue is. When I go to an NHS doctor here in UK I have absolutely 0 idea how much any of the tests or procedures cost, and yet the system isn't putting people in poverty(it has a lot of other problems, but bankrupting people isn't one of them).