Mighty pricey, this Prostate Cancer stuff.

Well, I fnally got what I think was my final charge for my prostatectomy, etc. which cost me out-of-pocket now a total of around $500.
I was curious, though, and went through all the charges billed to Blue Cross.
All told, it seems they were billed in the neighborhood of 200 grand!
Here's a partial breakdown:
Surgery itself. (Da Vinci) including anaesthesia and pathology:
$141 grand.
MRI, inc. "3d rendering" 14 grand
PET scan including "attenuation" $38,800
Needle Biopsy + + lab biopsy + ultrasound (+ second biopsy?) 10 grand

I have no idea if this is typical, but it did surprise me. So glad I had opted for a "Silver 94" plan which gave me great benefits, and for which I have been paying about $750 monthly, with ACA/Obamacare paying the other half. Of course I'm concerned about what my premiums will shoot up to if the ACA is disabled, as is being attempted now, and over which the government is presently shut down.

It's a pretty clear insight as to why many people who are not covered or cannot afford insurance, end up on the street due to medical debt.

I find it both sobering and chilling.