Indiana has some of the highest hospital prices in the nation. So before your next visit or procedure, check out the state’s new price transparency tool.
The database is built on nearly two billion health insurance claims from across the state. It is updated annually with new information.
To use it, enter your ZIP code to find hospitals near you. Then, select your insurance plan and the type of procedure you need. For example, there are average costs for ER visits, giving birth, knee surgeries and colonoscopies.
The tool will show you quality star ratings for each hospital and price ranges that you can compare. It includes average costs for all health insurance plans, middle insurance plans and cash prices. There’s also an estimate for out-of-pocket costs.
In a May 7 news release, Gov. Mike Braun said the tool will help Hoosiers “compare and save with confidence.” His administration has pushed for more transparency and lower hospital prices.
The tool also allows consumers to compare the cost of doctor’s visits and labs by county. That includes regular office visits, eye exams, therapy, pap smears and telehealth visits.
If you have specific questions, you can also use the website’s chatbot to get answers. For example, you can ask which hospital in Marion County is most affordable for an emergency department visit. For that question, the chatbot recommended Eskenazi Health — the hospital’s median out-of-pocket cost is $404.
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Mirror Indy reporter Mary Claire Molloy covers health. Reach her at 317-721-7648 or email maryclaire.molloy@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @mcmolloy7.
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