It is also so much freaking work to just figure things out. When I did my back in I needed an MRI to see the damage. Orthopedist referred me to UAB for my MRI, but I would need to wait a week and it would be $500 to $750 out of pocket. Thankfully (?) I was in enough pain that I needed an answer immediately, so I took the time to research my PPO network and found a walk in MRI clinic 10 minutes from the orthopedist that was in network. Got an immediate appointment and was in and out in an hour. Total cost was $0. I am not sure if it was laziness or kickbacks driving the doc's suggestion, but it would have also cost me major money. Same guy wanted to cut me open once he got the MRI results, but I found another doc who wanted to pursue PT and exercise. Haven't had a flare up since. Maybe he was just an ass?
As an aside: When our German Shepherd herniated a disc in her back the entire cost of vet visit/x-ray/MRI (on a human machine that was time shared between vet school and private human clinic)/surgery (2 vets surgeons, anesthesiologist, and 4 vet students)/recovery/ meds was $2500. The cost of that MRI above without insurance? $3500. Insane.