This KFF Interactive allows students to compare the average daily costs of receiving hospital inpatient care over time in the United States, and in different states. The highlighted example above compares those costs over 20 years in California and Georgia. The data includes all operating and non-operating expenses for registered US community hospitals, defined as nonfederal short-term general and other special hospitals whose facilities and services are available to the public. Adjusted expenses per inpatient day include expenses incurred for both inpatient and outpatient care. 

Here are a couple of discussion starters you can use to follow up after using the interactive:

• What are the average expenses per inpatient day at a hospital in 2019 in your state? 
• How do the costs in your state differ from the overall U.S.? 
• Do you think that most people could afford to pay this cost out-of-pocket for even one day? 
• Does information like this make you more or less likely to purchase health insurance? 

Our Health Insurance 101 lesson includes activities and resources with the answers to the above-mentioned discussion questions. Additional questions could include: 

• Are Americans Worried About Unexpected Medical Bills? [Data Crunch] 
• How Many Adults Lack Health Insurance? [Data Crunch]
• How Do Americans Get Health Insurance? [Data Crunch]

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Looking for more insurance-related resources, be sure to check out our Insurance unit page. 

About the Author

Brian Page

Making a difference in the lives of students through financial capability is Brian’s greatest passion. He comes to NGPF after fifteen years of public school teaching where he was the ‘11 Ohio Department of Education recipient of a Milken National Educator Award, the CEE Forbes Award winner, and a Money Magazine/CNN "Money Hero". He served on the working group for President Obama's Advisory Council on Financial Capability. He has private school experience as a Trustee for the Cincinnati Country Day School and was a past Ohio Jump$tart President. Brian holds a BBA and M.Ed. When Brian isn’t working alongside his NGPF teammates he is likely spending time with his wife, three children, and dog; hiking, or watching Ohio State football.