Highmark members can access the Care Comparison Costs section of the Web site and can see average cost ranges for procedures at hospitals and other medical facilities and obtain information on fees including admission, anesthesia, pathology and discharge, according to the report.
Actual out-of-pocket estimates are not provided, but Highmark said in the report that customers with deductibles and co-payments can use the information to estimate what their costs will be.
Costs were based on fiscal year 2008 information for network hospitals and ASCs in many markets nationwide. The cost data will be updated twice a year, according to the report.
The Care Comparison Costs tool was developed in collaboration WellPoint, Premera Blue Cross in Washington state, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Read the report about the Highmark Care Comparison Cost Web tool.
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