Imagine needing a common outpatient surgery, like a hernia repair, and being quoted nearly $50,000 at a hospital. Now imagine having that same procedure done at a surgical center for just under $10,000, with your out-of-pocket cost reduced to $0. This isn’t wishful thinking. This is precisely what happens regularly at ShareWELL.
The $37,972 Difference
This ShareWELL member received a Good Faith Estimate of $47,756 at a hospital. Instead of accepting it, they contacted ShareWELL’s Advocacy team, who guided them to a high-quality surgical center offering the same procedure for $9,784. By taking extra steps to make a smarter choice and helping reduce costs for the entire community, this member qualified for a UA reduction.
Total out-of-pocket cost to this member? $0.
That’s not just good healthcare. That’s financial transformation.
The Power of Choice: Why Surgical Centers Are the Smart Move
Across the country, an increasing number of patients are realizing that where a procedure is performed can be just as important as how it is paid for. Surgical centers, also known as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), consistently provide:
- Significantly lower costs compared to hospitals, often by 40% or more
- Faster scheduling and same-day recovery, offering more convenience
- Lower risk of infection due to smaller, more controlled environments
- Clear, upfront pricing, especially for self-pay patients
National data shows that outpatient procedures at ASCs cost 40 to 60 percent less than those performed in hospitals. That’s not a slight difference. That’s the kind of savings that can change your financial outlook.
Your Decisions Drive Community Value
At ShareWELL, every wise decision you make directly benefits the community. When you choose a lower-cost, high-quality provider like a surgical center:
- You reduce your costs
- You reduce the community’s costs
- And you may have your UA reduced, or even eliminated
That’s exactly what happened with the hernia repair story above. By helping avoid a nearly $38,000 overcharge, the member’s wise decision led to a full UA waiver and preserved community resources.
It’s the definition of a win-win.
Hospitals Are Charging More. You Don’t Have To Pay It.
According to MDsave, the national average cost for a laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair is nearly $33,000 in hospital settings, but you can pay approximately $16,500 at an ambulatory surgical center (ASC).
That’s a staggering $16,500 difference—enough to reshape your healthcare budget.
From Cost Burden to Community Power
Here’s how one member turned a $50,000 procedure into a $0 out-of-pocket experience:
- Contacted ShareWELL Advocacy early in the process
- Requested quotes from both the hospital and the surgical center
- Uncover self-pay resources, guided by our team
- Take proactive action when resources are available
- Qualified for UA reduction, with no money out-of-pocket
Their efforts became their savings and everyone’s gain. That’s what ShareWELL is all about.
If You’re Facing Surgery, Take These Steps Now
You have more control than you think. If you’re told you need a procedure, ask:
- “Is this available at a surgical or ambulatory center?”
- “Can I see a Good Faith Estimate for multiple locations?”
- “Do you have resources available for self-pay patients?”
Then, act on the information. Choosing wisely can lead to massive savings for you and stronger support for the community.
Your Health. Your Money. Your Community.
ShareWELL exists to give you the freedom of choice, financial clarity, and a community that supports one another through thoughtful, cost-conscious decisions.
When you pick a surgical center over a hospital, you’re not just saving money. You’re protecting your financial future and strengthening the ShareWELL community.
If you or a family member is planning a procedure, connect with ShareWELL Advocacy today. Let us help you navigate options, reduce your costs, and potentially walk away with $0 out-of-pocket, just like many of your fellow members have already done.
Choose smarter. Save bigger. Share well.
- ASC vs HOPD cost studies healthcare.gov+7ascassociation.org+7premiersurgicalsurgerycenter.com+7sharewellhealth.org+1sharewellhealth.org+1aaos.org+1goodrx.com+1
- ShareWELL UA structure and Reduction Program sharewellhealth.org
- Hernia repair cost comparisons leapfroggroup.org+2goodrx.com+2mathematica.org+2
- Laparoscopic Surgery Costs pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+6goodrx.com+6goodrx.com+6