Where's the Zoloft aisle?

With no end in sight to the problem of healthcare in the US, a Minnesota-based website may give residents in Minneapolis and St. Paul some respite.

Carol, or The Care Marketplace, bills itself as an online shopping mall that gives consumers the information they need to compare and purchase healthcare. The experience is similar to shopping for a car or a flight online.

Users may juxtapose the cost and quality of over 350 health services from local healthcare providers and doctors. The site also includes customer ratings, a beloved feature amongst shoppers in the US and UK.

Providers offer condition-specific packages of related services, such as immunizations, neck and back pain diagnosis, and diabetes care. Carol works with insurance companies to verify patient membership and provide cost estimates for packages.

The service is free for consumers with or without health insurance. Appointments can be made on the site.

The site plans to expand through the US in '08.