Spread the health around: The new local health care co-op that's got the president's attention

The health care
co-op

How it works: In the Access to Healthcare Network, patients bring cash up front (or are sponsored by friends or family who can) to doctors and specialists and receive standardized, steep discounts on everything from routine checkups to MRIs to surgery. More expensive services such as hospital stays have caps on them, so patients always know the maximum fee they're facing.

Members also pay a monthly fee of $24; unlimited family member plans run $35 a month, bringing the true average cost per person to $15. Members of the program must agree to pay upfront for any services they receive.

Sample discounts:
Primary Care follow-up visits, on average, $95
Access: $40

Specialty Care, urologist, follow-up visit, average $180
Access: $65

Ten-day inpatient hospital stay, average: $50,000
Access: $3,000 max

Outpatient hernia repair average $12,500 outpatient
Access: $1,200

Dental exam, X-ray, and cleaning: $285
Access: $85

Source: Access to Healthcare Network