In our system the buyer doesn't even have access to the prices, and they generally don't care what they are anyway because the insurance company takes the responsibility. They are not being idiots. They are simply reacting to the way the system is set up.And btw, if you choose not to have insurance and shop around for your own medical care you are in an even worse position because you do not get the same prices that the insurance companies do... not even close. You would end up paying far more for the procedures than the insurance company would at the most expensive provider, even if you went with the least expensive provider.
So they have choices and just choose not to usually shop around.
Sounds like a lazy consumer in a market setting.