For millions of Americans, navigating the healthcare system can be confusing, frustratingly slow, and unpredictable. In her recent opinion piece in the Washington Post, Dr. Monique Yohanan described how even a physician like her with medical training, connections, and insider knowledge faced challenges accessing timely care when she experienced severe shoulder pain. Her account highlights a familiar truth that many Americans already know: the healthcare system is much easier for those with resources and significantly harder for everyone else.
When Dr. Yohanan’s shoulder pain worsened, she followed the protocol that most patients did: she searched for in-network appointments. But even with insurance, the delays were lengthy. It would take a week to see her primary care physician, two weeks for physical therapy, several days for imaging, and potentially months before seeing an orthopedic surgeon. Although she suspected she was suffering from frozen shoulder, she knew going down the path of insurance would push her to undergo up to a year of conservative treatment before receiving direct care.
What changed her situation had nothing to do with insurance at all – it was her professional connections and insider knowledge. By calling in a favor from a physical therapist colleague, she was able to bypass the usual wait times. Just one visit led to a next-day evaluation and a quick referral to an orthopedic surgeon. While the surgeon did not take insurance, she was able to schedule a consult within days. The doctor’s office provided full transparency on the cost of services including exam, ultrasound, injections before her appointment. And in just a single visit, she received a diagnosis and treatment that markedly reduced her pain.
Her system paints a painful picture in which the healthcare system works fastest for those most skilled at navigating it. Most patients don’t have insider access or the financial means to pay out of pocket, leaving them at the mercy of the insurance’s rules and long timelines rather than the urgency of their medical needs.
This reinforces a broader national trend. Americans consistently report their frustration with the healthcare system not just because of the rising costs but also the lack of transparency and the persistent delays in receiving treatment even when facing urgent health concerns.
Dr. Yohanan argues that a key initial step to improvement is price transparency so that every patient, and not just insiders, can understand the cost of care and compare options. Legislation such as the proposed Patients Deserve Price Tags Act aims to push the healthcare industry to be more transparent, requiring real pricing across the entire care plan. While transparency won’t fix everything, Dr. Yohanan argues that it offers patients the ability to make informed decisions in a system that keeps them in the dark.
This piece also points to why some Americans are exploring alternatives to traditional healthcare insurance. Some are turning to healthcare sharing ministries which are not traditional insurance but often offer lower monthly premiums and more clarity on pricing. For those priced out of traditional insurance or discouraged by the long delays and complex billing, these ministries can be a simpler, more predictable option – though not without risks.