My 82 year old.
The one with persistent diverticulitis.
The well manicured finger nails and blue/white hair styled to perfection.
The one sick enough to be admitted but, took 3 hours to get from her primary care doctors office to my hospital (which is 5 miles away).
The one that lives in a beach house and has the aura and attitude of health and wealth.
The one fully funded through the Medicare National Bank.
That one.
We had an interesting conversation the other day.
In 1950. Her child was born.
Hell, my parents were only pre teens at that time.
One child.
Uncomplicated vaginal delivery.
11 day hospital stay (That's eleven with an E)
All fee's for hospital and doctors.
$350.
How much is that in 2007 dollars?
$3014.14
My how the times have changed.
Friday, March 7, 2008
How Much Was Your Kid?
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4 Outbursts:
HH -
Is today's 3K $300 adjusted for inflation? Or is it what we charge for a delivery today? My numbers may be inaccurate, but I thought the delivery ran about 10K.
Can you please clarify?
Old MD girl. The $350 bill in 1950 is the equivalent of a $3,000 bill in 2007. This is the inflation adjusted equivalent of delivering a 1950 baby in 2007.
As you point out, the actual bill would run you closer to $10K, once again, showing how health care inflation has outstripped base inflation by a large margin.
Just for a stroll down memory lane...1969. Charge for normal delivery to the OB was $400 paid up front before labor. I don't remember the hospital bill but I didn't have insurance and it was not a big concern. No one worried about health care costs then. You just paid as you went...no big deal.
Ah, but in 1950 and 1969 you did not have routine fetal heart monitors, ultrasounds, delivery suites, Ob/Gyn malpractice costs at over 6 figures and the other acutrements of medicine in 2008. Not being an Ob, I wonder what has happened to outcomes (ie maternal and fetal death rate) between 1969 and 2008. In other words, what did we get for our money? No one is asking, they are just consuming. FREE=MORE.
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