When Ronmel Rangel needed a second hernia repair, a local hospital in Maine estimated the procedure could cost about $23,000. Because he did not have health insurance, he decided to compare prices.
With help from his primary-care doctor, Rangel considered surgery centers in several states and even looked at an option in Chile. He ultimately traveled to Maryland, where an outpatient center charged a flat $2,900 for surgery, anesthesia and the surgeon’s fee.
After airfare, lodging, meals and transportation for Rangel and his wife, the total came to about $4,700. KFF Health News reported that he recovered within two weeks.
The case illustrates how hospital facility fees, market differences and the lack of standardized private-sector prices can produce wide variations in medical bills. Patients should discuss risks, follow-up care and total costs with qualified clinicians before choosing where to receive care.
Source: KFF Health News, July 29, 2026.
