I live in the US. I never have a clue what I’m spending, what a procedure or medication will cost, until maybe months later when they send me the bill which won’t be itemized and sometimes doesn’t even list what I’m paying for. I can receive additional bills for up to a year (recent change! They could bill you 10 years later before). I have no way of knowing the total cost, and I don’t know when I’m done paying. It’s designed to make sure I can’t shop around. In effect, the final cost is however much money I have in my pocket today or at any point in the future.

Also, the free market works great when you have no choice plus no information. If I had a heart attack, I guess I’ll pay whatever they bill me. Who knows. I guess it doesn’t matter because they can send me $1 million bill and I can’t pay it anyway. I just throw it away. Hopefully it would kill me so my family isn’t destitute.

Definitely follow the US model!