The ColoHealth Health & Wealth Newsletter
June 2025
Vol. 28, Issue 6

How To Shop for Health Care in Colorado

Shopping for health care in Colorado can feel overwhelming.

There’s just so much information to take in!

Fortunately, thanks to advances in computer technology, and a new federal law mandating hospitals and other providers become much more transparent with their pricing, there are some new tools that make the process much easier.

These new developments substantially level the playing field. So you have more access to the information you need to make an informed decision.

Yes, You Do Need to Comparison Shop for Health Care.

Most people don’t think to “shop around” for health care.

But here’s the truth: Prices for the exact same medical service can vary wildly between doctors, clinics, and hospitals—even within the same ZIP code.

Even with insurance, finding the right provider can make a big difference when it comes to your out-of-pocket costs and health outcomes.

Whether you’re insured or paying out of pocket, being a smart healthcare shopper in Colorado can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year! And with new tools and transparency laws, it’s finally much easier to compare prices and make informed decisions about your care.

Why Shopping for Healthcare Matters—Even With Insurance

A lot of people think that once they have insurance, they don’t need to worry about how much a doctor visit, lab test, or procedure costs.

But that’s not how most insurance plans work anymore!

Here’s why cost still matters:

You pay full price until you meet your deductible. Many Colorado residents have high-deductible health plans. If you don’t hit your deductible each year, you’re paying for most of your medical expenses out of pocket.
You still owe coinsurance. Even after meeting your deductible, many plans require you to pay a percentage of the bill.
Avoid overpaying. Why pay $1,500 for an MRI when another facility down the road charges $600 for the same scan?
Lower prices help you save HSA funds. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), paying less for care helps those tax-free dollars go further.

Shopping for healthcare is one of the easiest ways to cut your costs without sacrificing quality.

The Transparency Problem: Healthcare Pricing Hasn’t Always Been Clear

For years, it was almost impossible to compare prices between providers.

There was no standard “menu” of services and costs. Too often, patients were often left guessing. Or worse, they’d get blindsided by a surprise bill weeks later.

It wasn’t just a matter of different providers charging different rates. Sometimes, the same provider would charge drastically different prices depending on:

Whether the patient was uninsured, self-pay, or had insurance
The patient’s insurance company
The location the care was provided at––and even the time of day!
The identity and experience level of the billing clerk working with your insurance company.

As a result, two people getting the exact same treatment at the same clinic might pay totally different amounts!

The Solution: New Transparency Laws

That’s changing, thanks to federal and state price transparency rules.

Hospitals and health systems are now required by law to post their prices for common procedures, tests, and services—including both the “cash price” and the prices they’ve negotiated with insurers.
Health plans are also required to provide members with real-time cost estimates for services, customized to their deductible and out-of-pocket maximums.

In Colorado, you have access to some of the best tools in the country for comparing healthcare prices and finding fair rates. These tools can help you plan ahead—and avoid getting stuck with inflated bills.

How to Compare Healthcare Prices in Colorado

Here are two excellent tools that can help you shop smarter:

HealthcareBluebook.com

This free online tool lets you:

Search for medical procedures and tests
See what a fair price is in your area
Compare providers to see who charges reasonable rates
Use the “Green-Yellow-Red” pricing system to spot overpriced care

This site is especially helpful for people with high-deductible plans or health sharing memberships.

Colorado Hospital Price Finder

This Colorado-specific tool lets you:

Look up prices charged by different hospitals within the state of Colorado
Compare average amounts paid by commercial insurance, including Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans.
Filter by procedure, facility, or county
See how one hospital stacks up against another

Use it to get a sense of what others are paying, and to identify cost-effective options near you.

Bonus Tip: Ask for the Cash Price

Even if you have insurance, it may be cheaper to pay out-of-pocket—especially for basic labs, imaging, and preventive care.

This can be true if you don’t expect to meet or exceed your deductible this year.

Furthermore, many clinics and surgery centers offer steep discounts for self-pay patients who pay upfront.

If you have an HSA or belong to a health sharing plan, paying the discounted cash rate can save you significant money. And the medical service you purchase may still qualify as an eligible medical expense, saving you even more money in taxes.

Need Help? Talk to a ColoHealth Personal Benefits Manager

Knowing how to shop for care is just one piece of the puzzle.

If you have questions about your current health plan—or you’re wondering if you’re in the right plan to begin with—we’re here to help.

At ColoHealth, our Personal Benefits Managers work one-on-one with you to:

Explain your plan and how it works with deductibles and out-of-pocket costs
Help you find cost-effective healthcare options in your area
Show you alternative health plans or health sharing programs that might fit your needs better

There’s no cost and no pressure—just friendly, helpful advice from people who know the Colorado health insurance market inside and out.

Reach out to a ColoHealth Personal Benefits Manager today for a free consultation, needs analysis, and quote.

We’ll help you get the most value from your benefits and make sure you’re never paying more than you need to for quality care.

To Your Health and Wealth,

signature-wiley

Wiley P. Long III
President- ColoHealth

The ColoHealth Health & Wealth Newsletter is published monthly and emailed to subscribers at no charge. Subscribe now to stay on top of the critical information you need to know about health insurance, healthshare plans and managing your finances to achieve financial security.