The $30,000 Surgery Scam:

Why Americans Deserve Better

Last week, I came across something that stopped me in my tracks. A hysterectomy Tulsa, Oklahoma costs $30,000 at one health system and $12,000 at another.

Same procedure. Same quality. Nearly triple the price.

This isn’t just another healthcare story. It’s about a system that’s been keeping us in the dark for too long – and what happens when we finally turn on the lights.

Let me break it down for you.

If you’re running a self-insured company, you’re essentially writing a blank check every time an employee needs care. One manufacturing company I spoke with discovered they were paying $300 per physical therapy session, while a clinic across town charged $95. Multiply that by hundreds of employees, and you’re looking at millions that could have gone into raises, better benefits, or company growth.

But here’s the kicker: high-deductible patients? You’re feeling this pain directly.

I recently watched a family agonize over whether they could afford a laminectomy. The first quote? $35,000. After some digging, they found a reputable surgeon offering the same procedure for $15,000. That’s not just savings – that’s life-changing money.

“But I have good insurance,” you might be thinking.

Here’s the brutal truth: those inflated prices are driving up your premiums every year. Your “good insurance” is getting more expensive because nobody’s questioning these prices. It’s a game where the house always wins – unless we change the rules.

As someone who’s spent decades advocating for healthcare affordability and transparency, I can tell you this: it doesn’t have to be this way.

Last month, I visited a surgery center that posts all their prices online. No games. No surprises. Just straightforward pricing like any other business. The director told me something I can’t stop thinking about:

“We’re not doing anything revolutionary. We’re just treating healthcare like every other service in America.”

Think about that for a second.

We demand to know the price of everything else we buy – from coffee to cars. Why have we accepted blindly paying whatever bill shows up two months after our medical care?

The answer? We haven’t. Not anymore.

Next week, I’ll share the story of three companies that slashed their healthcare expenses by 40% just by demanding price transparency. Subscribe to get that piece directly in your inbox.

In the meantime, ask yourself: Do you know what your next medical procedure will cost? If not, why not?

Let me know in the comments about your experiences with healthcare pricing. Have you ever been shocked by a medical bill? Or have you found ways to save by asking the right questions?

Why I’m Writing This

As a healthcare entrepreneur and advocate, I’ve spent over 25 years fighting to make healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone, everywhere. Along the way, I’ve worked with private practices, health systems, and employers to introduce transparency, empower physicians, and put patients back in control of their care.

The stories I’ll share in this series aren’t just about dollars and cents. They’re about creating a system where families, employers, and communities can thrive – without being blindsided by a broken healthcare model.

If this resonates with you, subscribe below and share this with someone who needs to hear it.

Together, we can demand a healthcare system that works for everyone – not just the few.

[Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series exploring healthcare price transparency. Subscribe to follow the full investigation.]

Thank you for reading.

-Rojas out