Newly published data breaks down the average daily expenses for an inpatient stay at different types of hospitals, allowing companies that collect on medical debt to compare how much it costs in the states in which they operate against the rest of the country.
The data was published by the Kaiser Family Foundation and allows for the information to be looked at historically as well as geographic demographics.
The average daily expense for an inpatient stay at a hospital in the United States in 2018 was $2,260 at a state or local government hospital, $2,653 at a non-profit hospital, and $2,093 at a for-profit hospital.
The lowest cost was $496 for a daily inpatient stay at a state or local government hospital in South Dakota. The highest cost was $5,326 at for-profit hospitals in North Dakota.
During the past 20 years, the cost to stay at a hotel has nearly doubled. Back in 1999, the average daily expense for an inpatient stay at a non-profit hospital was $1,139, $999 at a for-profit hospital, and $1,004 at a state or local government hospital.
The increase in medical expenses has caused many problems for many people living in the United States. The number of individuals who are putting off treatment for a medical condition has re-hit an all-time high, according to the results of a survey conducted by Gallup. A record number of people — 25% — said they have delayed treating a “serious” medical condition and another 8% said they have postponed treatment for a less serious condition. The 33% ties the mark set in 2014.