How to Find the Best Hospital

Unlike LeapFrog or JCAHO, HealthGrades primarily aggregates information from both private entities and public sources to compile the Hospital Quality Report at a cost of $17.95. The report attempts to present the information in a consumer-friendly manner. However, if you are actively engaged in trying to assess a hospital you are probably in a position to visit the individual sites yourself and get the same information.

Insurance Companies

One of the best sources of information available to you will most likely be through your insurance company. A big advantage to using your insurer's Web-based tools is the ability to find cost data. That is if you are lucky enough to be a member of an insurer that makes this information available. Companies moving aggressively into health saving account products will need to provide this kind of information to customers in a user-friendly format if they want to make these products successful.

Policyholders of HSA-linked products have a greater incentive to price shop due to the larger deductible on those plans. However, with increases in cost-sharing and out-patient procedures that may fall below your deductible, many more of us have an interest in the prices and quality of the services we are getting.

Aetna(AET Quote) announced plans last month to expand its online tool to include cost comparison data for common medical procedures. This tool will initially be available to members in 11 states plus the Washington, D.C. area.

Members will be able to find information based on location or facility name and then by procedure. Display results will include the range of the entire cost charged by both the physician and facility from admission through discharge on over 30 common procedures -- such as colonoscopies and hysterectomies.

UnitedHealthcare's Web-based tool takes this process one step further, providing customized member spending estimates based on their plan design, the amount of deductible used to date and if the provider is in-network or not.