If you've followed my blog from the start, you may recall that I had a brain MRI in Germany. It cost 843 Euros, or less than $900. (We paid the full cost out-of-pocket and were reimbursed 100%.) When we told the staff how much an MRI in the US costs, they were incredulous. Earlier this week, I paid for my portion of the MRI I had last month. It cost nearly $11,000 dollars, of which I paid $461. But wait, there's more. Before I met my deductible earlier this year, I discovered that I was paying $126 per month for the large (at-home) oxygen concentrator that I haven't used in about 15 months. (After I hit my deductible, I pay 10%, or $12.60. My portable costs $36 before deductible and $3.60 after, so $16/month total.) I asked my pulmonologist to write a script indicating that I only need the portable concentrator (for exercise) and don't need the large concentrator. (You can't get a portable anywhere--used or new--without a prescription, so I can't just go buy o...