We desperately NEED price transparency and the system is rigged against it.
What I recommend is get a really good PCP and start with his recommendations. Also see if you pay him cash at the time of service if he’ll give you a discount–quite a few docs take 30-50% off for that as insurance is low and slow pay usually and the paperwork costs are enormous.

Consider looking for things like lab work via grocery stores, drug stores, and Walmart. Kid you not. In Arizona, we have two chains of groceries that do that–Bashas and Fry’s. They both have independent labs that come through about once a month and will do testing for greatly reduced costs versus what you normally pay via the doc sending you to some place or drawing your blood and sending it in. I’d say savings of 30-50% on average–sometimes closer to 90% less than through a regular lab. They also do mammograms, allergy testing, and more in many cases and you do NOT need a doctor’s orders for the tests. They mail the results to you–if they’re abnormal, contact your doc to discuss them. If normal, just take them with you to the next appointment.
Also for those who do flu shots–clinics come through the grocery store. Penumonia shots are also routinely offered. I believe SOME clinics for that also are offering other things as well–you can ask.
There are also walk-in clinics at some grocery, drug stores, and Walmarts (not all, just some) for things from an upper respiratory infection to poison ivy and so forth. Typically well under $100 will get you seen and your medicine if you need it. They give you legit superbills so you can take off on taxes or submit to insurance, etc.
Save also by using generic drugs whenver possible. Walmart just expanded the $4 list and have quite a few for $9 and many other places are price-matching, even beating them. Call around and you can get a good deal.

Even if you don’t get these clinic deals, call ANY place you’d need a service and see if they give a cash pay discount. Most probably do. And cash pay means you CAN use a credit card–just pay in full at the time of service.

Good luck and please look this PDF over and maybe consider buying the book. Hands down most comprehensive, logical, free market plan to fix 90%+ of what is wrong with our system but NO UHC or other nonsense that does not work:

See if you can talk it up–great plan but as there is no graft built in as there is in present system movers and shakers seem to dislike it.

I got recommendation from acquaintances when we first moved here, and then simply called the offices of a couple of different places and asked what charges were for routine care. They were very similar, so I picked the one that seemed most similar to my previous doctor in demeanor.