NYC unveils new tool to help New Yorkers compare health care prices, estimate out-of-pocket costs
NEW YORK (WABC) -- On Monday, New York City health officials unveiled a new tool allowing people to compare prices for local health services.
"New Yorkers tell us all the time that their health insurance and navigating health care in New York City are confusing. It's overwhelming, it's difficult, it's costly, and they don't know how much it's going to cost," acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said.
The new website allows people to search for common procedures with or without insurance to see total prices at specific hospitals and facilities, and estimate their out-of-pocket costs.
Health care spending in New York City has doubled in the past ten years, primarily driven by hospital costs. In 2023, almost a million New Yorkers had medical debt of about $500 or more.
Born in 2023 and housed at the city's Department of Health headquarters in Long Island City is the first-of-its-kind' Office of Healthcare Accountability which has been working for the last year and a half on the pricing tool.
Insurers and the health care providers update information every month, so pricing on the tool will also be updated monthly.
The Department of Health is asking New Yorkers to help make the tool a success by providing feedback on the website.
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