So, if I need open heart surgery Right Now, I should put out bids?

The crazy thing about heart surgery is this. The surgeon actually charges very little in comparison to what the hospital charges. Total tab might be north of $50K with the surgeon charging only a fraction of that amount.

BTW, only heart valve replacements are on my list. If you ever need one, pray to god it is the aortic because mitral is much messier. Several new heart valve technologies require low doses of blood thinners and the valve itself is quiet. Nice. Bypass is a killa dilla and will screw up both your heart and your brain. Plumbers clean out clogs, they do not BYPASS them. get it? I have two neighbors who have lost family members due to the heart bypass procedure, one recently died during the surgery itself.

Doctors incomes do not indicate they are the real problem with todays costs. They do make for a usable scapegoat though.

Many people travel to different countries where you can price shop and the outcomes are at least as good if not better than at home.

We as Canadians have a pre paid medical system. Yet a few pay above and beyond for operations outside the country. When the best treatment in the world is available for some of those operations in Canada. They never check they just assume.

One came out when a Canadian medical system doctor was questioned by an American senator. She simply told him that the Canadian that decided to have the complex heart operation done in Florida. He reffered to. That procedure was invented in Canada and we have by far the best outcomes in the world doing it. Question after question she just nailed his smug ass.

The creator of the heavens and the earth designed our bodies to function very well without surgery and drugs. Given half a chance, your body will right itself without surgery or drugs.

I'm thankful surgeons and hospitals exist but somehow I've managed to get through six plus decades without surgery or hospitals. I intend to keep it that way until my last breath on this earth.