I came across some old papers in a box a few days ago and one was a hospital bill from 1951.
I had cervical spine surgery a couple of months ago and that hospital bill came in a few days ago.

I know comparing hospitalization costs because of an accident and surgery is apples to oranges but it just shows how much has changed.
In 1951 had busted ribs and broken arm but was in pretty bad shape and had 24 hour nursing for a couple or three days.

Bill from 1951 : 6 days room, bandages, dressings, splint, antibiotics, & narcotics = $48
Extra nurses = $25
Doctor = $30
Total amount owed = $103.00

On February 27th of this year I went in the hospital at noon on a Wednesday, had cervical spine surgery that afternoon and was discharged at about 1:00 pm the following day. Two pages of charges and such for a total bill of $40,156.00
Surgeon not included in this bill.

Yep, and I still call them the good old days.

Sounds about right. Cost of living was a whole lot cheaper in 51.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/fiftiesweb.com/pop/prices-1951/amp/

House: $7,300
Average income: $3,515
Ford car: $1424-$2253
8.3 cu. ft. General Electric refrigerator: $330
Milk: $.92
Gas: $.20
Bread $.16
Postage stamp: $.03
1 lb. of buttered peanut brittle: $.25
14 oz. can of Hershey’s Syrup: $.17
Sliced Bacon: $.63 per lb
Coca Cola, 6 bottles: $.37
Canada Dry Ginger Ale, (2) 28 oz btls: $.39
Post Sugar Crisp, 6 oz pkg: $.15
Jerry Mahoney Ventriloquist dummy: $14.95

Medical cost increases have far out paced the increase in costs, in almost everything else.

Keith

And notice in Adam's google list there is no inclusion for insurance. That's because we didn't have any and most of us had never heard of it.

His list evidently was for people in towns or cities because half of it never heard of , had a pickup, no car, had a milk cow and raised our own pork. Indulged in coca cola when went to town, mother made bread, and the house came with the land. Had to buy gasoline and stamps.

Country people lived a whole lot different life in those days and some of us still do. I simply cannot get out of cities over 5,000 population fast enough.

Then they imported the BMW and things went crazy!

Government envolvement in health care and insurance has created a serious mess !

Paid politicians?

Well, that $103 in 1951 would be about a $1000 today.
Seems like a little discrepancy there.

Zim

Very true cedar. I assume when any economic figures are given it's for city slickers.

Very true Zim

That Ford car was kind of expensive back in the day compared to the other expenses.

Zim is right here, the value of $103.00 in 1951 is equal to $1007.03 now.

The Ford Car purchased in '51 at $2253 is equivalent to $22,027.58 now. Still can get a new car for that amount of money today.

The government getting its fingers into health care is the cause of these higher than the rate of inflation costs.

https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

Want to drop healthcare costs by 60%? Get the gov completely out of it.
Want to drop it even more? Tort reform.

The medical business has become a for profit generated business more so today than it use to be

$8 for a Tylenol and $2 for the catchup cup it comes in and the drug companies blowing up prices from hundreds to thousands of dollars on needed meds, if the Government is the problem is because they are allowing it to go on?

A friend was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, way too late. He died 2 weeks later. His wife got the bill, the first day was $58,000. Compare that to a 6 pack of coke.

Look at the corruption being uncovered in D.C. now. Can you imagine what've being covered up in the medical field, food business, etc. The silver fillings in your mouth have mercury in them. Some folks' bodies can filter it out, some can't, and it has caused some problems. Dental profession does not want people to know. The sudden rise of cancer rate has various causes, and most is being covered up in the name of $$$. This stuff is why Congress members become millionnaires on the salary they receive.

"Being alive is hazardous to on'e health" Sure there are many faults and people and organizations to fault and blame but it just seems that affluence breeds a considerable amount of ungratefulness in millions of people.
We all might live a bit longer and be healthier if we did not carry so many resentments with us every day.


Bryce

Buddy had all the coverage anyone would ever need a retired BIA Grass Fire Supervisor he went to the best places and struggle to get updates and call backs from the treatment centers. This popped up on Facebook for the 3 year anniversary the last hunt we had in the Black Hills.

There will never be a cure for cancer because it is the biggest business in the world.

That's a fact. They're great about treatment, just no cure.