What costs more – Five Star Hotel or Hospital?

Last week we had a great opportunity to learn the “ins” and “outs” of health care costs from an expert in the area. David Hansen, CEO of United Healthcare was our featured speaker and had everyone captivated by the presentation and discussion. His opening question set the tone for the event – what does it cost to stay at the Fairmont Hotel in Seattle for a day and for a day in a local hospital?

As you can imagine, the answers were all over the board. We had a number of people in attendance that were also very connected to the healthcare arena as well and the answers were still very diverse. This was just one of the many interesting discussion points.

So to answer the question, most agreed that the Fairmont would cost around $400 a night and the range was pretty close from all those who contributed. However, the answers for the day in a hospital ranged from $3,500 to $12,000. The amazing part – they were all CORRECT! Depending on the location, it can be anywhere in that range. The question isn’t “do your employees know where the closest hospital is located?” Of course they do. The real question is “do they know where the most affordable hospitals are located? That is the key question.

If you weren’t able to attend this interesting and controversial session, check out my next few postings for some additional details you might find interesting.