Chapter 1:
Automobile Insurance
Factors That Affect Auto Insurance: Hospital
And Medical Costs |
|
| When you think about hospital costs, you probably think of
health insurance. Although it may not be as apparent, medical and hospital
costs affect auto and homeowners insurance too. Injuries to you and others
are covered by Medical Payments and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists coverages
on your auto policy. Your homeowners insurance policy most likely includes
Medical Payments to Others coverage, protecting those who are injured on
your premises. |
| Five-year comparison
of hospital costs |
| In the chart below, 1993 and 1997 per diem hospital costs
for major Ohio cities are compared. (1997 statistics are the latest available
through the annual American Hospital Association survey.) Although increases
have stabilized in recent years, the average per diem cost of hospital care
rose from $972.14 to $1,196.05 for metropolitan areas (a 23% increase),
and from $729.32 to $822.96 for nonmetropolitan areas, for a 12.8% increase.
The statewide average showed a 21.3% increase during this five-year period. |
| Five-Year Comparison
of Per Diem Hospital Costs in Major Ohio Cities 1993 and 1997 |
| City |
1993 Per Diem Cost
|
1997 Per Diem Cost |
% Increase
|
| Akron |
$967.71 |
$1,317.63 |
36.2% |
| Canton/Massillon |
824.02 |
1,003.56 |
21.8 |
| Cincinnati |
1,078.19 |
1,315.51 |
22.0 |
| Cleveland/Lorain/Elyria |
966.89 |
1,183.39 |
22.4 |
| Columbus |
1,108.93 |
1,375.17 |
24.0 |
| Dayton/Springfield |
948.88 |
1,281.16 |
35.0 |
| Hamilton/Middletown |
798.63 |
972.14 |
21.7 |
| Huntington/Ashland |
720.16 |
898.22 |
24.7 |
| Lima |
843.81 |
1,041.88 |
23.5 |
| Mansfield |
845.83 |
947.16 |
12.1 |
| Parkersburg/Marietta |
819.65 |
917.26 |
11.9 |
| Steubenville/Wierton |
788.80 |
857.76 |
8.7 |
| Toledo |
986.10 |
1,067.49 |
8.3 |
| Wheeling |
392.19 |
497.88 |
27.0 |
| Youngstown/Warren |
894.98 |
1,127.15 |
25.9 |
| Metropolitan |
972.14 |
1,196.05 |
23.0 |
| Nonmetropolitan |
729.32 |
822.96 |
12.8 |
| State Average |
940.28 |
1,140.91 |
21.3 |
Source: Hospital Statistics, 1994-95 edition and 1999 edition, published
by the American Hospital Association |
 |
A US Census Bureau report finds
the number of Americans without health insurance is on the rise. In Ohio,
the percentage actually decreased between 1997 and 1998. 11.5% Ohioans lacked
health insurance in 1997, and in 1998 the Bureau reported a Buckeye state
percentage of 10.4%.
(The Associated Press) |
