As the Nation Faces Continued Economic Uncertainty, FAIR Health Empowers Americans to Take Control of Their Healthcare Expenses

FAIR Health helps consumers make better decisions about their healthcare by providing them an unprecedented amount of objective data on the cost of medical and dental treatments from its huge, independent database 

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As consumers contend with continued economic uncertainty and rising healthcare costs, FAIR Health is helping them take control of their health-related expenses by giving them unprecedented access to data on the expected cost of medical and dental treatments based on level of insurance and geographic area. An independent, non-profit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and out-of-network reimbursement information, FAIR Health offers free, web-based tools that individuals can use to find out the typical fees in their areas for the entire spectrum of medical and dental services.

“Consumers looking to take control of their health care expenses and reduce cost anxiety should not feel alone knowing they have an independent organization offering objective and comprehensive information on their side.”

FAIR Health announced today that its database now contains records for 12 billion de-identified, private healthcare procedures representing more than 125 million insured individuals throughout the United States. This repository constitutes the largest such data resource in the nation that is owned and administered by an independent organization. Consumers who visit the FAIR Health website at fairhealthconsumer.org and take advantage of its user-friendly look up tools which are supported by this data can obtain information that will help them plan for medical expenses, negotiate fees with providers and support the claims that they file with their insurers.

This data has added significance given that the rising cost of care – and the historical uncertainty of not knowing the cost of a certain medical or dental treatment – remains a pervasive concern across the country. A December 2011 NPR / Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that three-fourths of those unemployed or underemployed say they or a family member have delayed medical care because of cost, while 43 percent of the respondents to a recent Consumer Reports survey said they delayed dental care in the past five years due to cost concerns.  By sharing its data on healthcare costs with the public, FAIR Health enables consumers to deal with such costs realistically and effectively. 

“The increasingly large number of Americans who are forgoing or delaying medical or dental treatment because of cost concerns should know that there is a place they can turn to find out about cost before they see a doctor or begin treatment,” said FAIR Health CEO Robin Gelburd. “Consumers looking to take control of their health care expenses and reduce cost anxiety should not feel alone knowing they have an independent organization offering objective and comprehensive information on their side.”

Since the Internet launch of the FAIR Health dental cost lookup tool in April 2011 and the launch of its medical cost lookup tool in August 2011, both at fairhealthconsumer.org, consumers are using the site before visiting a doctor’s office or undergoing medical or dental treatment; while at a doctor’s office as part of a negotiation over the price of a procedure; and during the appeals process with their insurance company over an out-of-network reimbursement.

“FAIR Health’s independent, verified data gives consumers value every time they deal with the healthcare system,” Gelburd added. “Tens of thousands of Americans have used the cost lookup tools since their launch last year, and we are confident more and more consumers will use these tools when contemplating choices about health care.”

In addition to enabling individuals to view and evaluate cost estimates for healthcare services in their own locales, the lookup tools can estimate the amount that an insurer would typically reimburse for medical or dental services when obtained out of network. Because more than 70 percent of Americans with private health insurance have plans that reimburse for out-of-network care, FAIR Health is giving tens of millions of people nationwide the cost information that helps them determine whether to use out-of network providers or to consult medical and dental professionals who belong to their insurers’ network. 

Gelburd noted that consumers with high deductible health plans, those with closed network plans who are still considering seeking care outside of that network and uninsured individuals looking to obtain pricing information for necessary healthcare services also will find the reliable cost estimates provided by FAIR Health helpful.

About FAIR Health:

FAIR Health is a national independent, not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to bring transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through comprehensive data products and consumer resources. FAIR Health uses its database of billions of billed medical and dental services to power a free website (fairhealthconsumer.org) that enables consumers to estimate and plan their medical and dental expenditures. The website also offers clear, unbiased educational articles and videos about the healthcare insurance reimbursement system. In addition to its consumer offerings, FAIR Health licenses data products to businesses, governmental agencies, healthcare providers and researchers. With its professional staff of experts in healthcare, statistics, technology and communications, FAIR Health strives to offer accurate, consistent and timely information to all stakeholders in the healthcare system.