The internet has produced greater transparency into the pricing system. Not, of course, when you go to individual sites run by each company. No-one publishes a simple list of premiums. In one sense, their excuse is reasonable. The premiums will vary depending on who you are, where you live, what your medical history is, and so on. But it would still be possible to publish guideline prices.

Now there is a new generation of websites that allows you to put all your information into a questionnaire and all the health insurance companies who want your business have to give a quote. Just think of it. All the health insurance quotes lining up against each other on the same page. At last you can genuinely see what the market price is for a premium for someone with your age and health background.