Report: Americans unaware of health care savings

New research from Vitals Index, a medical and healthcare company, discovered that even though two-thirds of Americans think they are savvy when it comes to being a health care consumer, many can't find quality care at the best price.

In the report, more than 60 percent of respondents didn't know basic quality information about their doctor or even what medical school he or she attended. In the survey, young consumers were the least likely to know where their doctor went to school and more than 10 percent said they simply didn't care where they went.

Many of the respondents were oblivious to cost-savings methods for their health care bills. The research found that only one-third of the respondents said they negotiate bills with their doctors or hospital.

"At a time when the price of care can vary by thousands of dollars from clinic to clinic and high-deductibles are more common, consumers need to know how to compare prices before they go see a doctor," said Mitch Rothschild, the CEO of Vitals. "No shopper would buy a TV without knowing how good it is and how much it costs. We should buy health care with that same level of transparency."

Some health experts wonder if the Affordable Care Act is changing the way people purchase health insurance or pay for services, but people have to understand the marketplace first, Prairie Magazine reported.