well yes it is a scam. you don't make much money if you treat a hospital like a fast food restaurant and order your $10 health exam or $45 tummy ache. hospitals know they are getting insurance money so they gouge their prices as high as possible. insurance companies play nice with hospitals if they push their insurance. if the insurance company and hospital don't like each other, you get screwed. of course the government wants their cut too so if you don't pay up then cops come and arrest you.
United States