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, 1994 and 1998 per diem hospital costs for major Ohio cities are compared. (1998 statistics are the latest available through the annual American Hospital Association survey.) The state average per diem cost of hospital care rose from $1,044.73 to $1,203.40 for metropolitan areas (a 15.2% increase), and from $766.67 to $866.60 for nonmetropolitan areas, for a 13% increase. The statewide average showed a 25.1% increase during this five-year period.