The 20 most expensive health conditions in the US

Advertisement

20. Liveborn

20. Liveborn

Liveborn is how childbirth and postnatal hospital care is clinically classified.

Average cost per stay: $3,529

Percent of all US hospital stays: 10.6%

Advertisement

19. Mood disorders

19. Mood disorders

Mood disorders are a category of mental illnesses that include bipolar disorder, depression, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Average cost per stay: $6,275

Percent of all US hospital stays: 2.3%

Advertisement

18. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis

18. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis

COPD and bronchiectasis are separate conditions, but both lung diseases make breathing more difficult.

Average cost per stay: $8,034

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.8%

17. Diabetes mellitus with complications

17. Diabetes mellitus with complications

Conditions that occur from poor treatment of Diabetes are wide-ranging, from vascular diseases, blindness, and chronic kidney disease.

Average cost per stay: $9,684

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.5%

Advertisement

16. Pneumonia

16. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is another lung condition — an infectious inflammation of the air sacs.

Average cost per stay: $9,887

Percent of all US hospital stays: 2.7%

15. Cardiac dysrhythmias

15. Cardiac dysrhythmias

Cardiac dysrhythmia is the medical term for an irregular heartbeat.

Average cost per stay: $10,110

Percent of all US hospital stays: 2.0%

Advertisement

14. Congestive heart failure

14. Congestive heart failure

Congestive heat failure is the inability to pump an adequate amount of blood through the body and can be caused by many diseases.

Average cost per stay: $11,585

Percent of all US hospital stays: 2.5%

13. Biliary tract disease

13. Biliary tract disease

Biliary diseases are a group of conditions that affect the biliary system — including gallstones and pancreatitis.

Average cost per stay: $11,659

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.1%

Advertisement

12. Complications of surgical procedures or medical care

12. Complications of surgical procedures or medical care

Any side effect of surgery or a basic medical procedure is included here.

Average cost per stay: $13,073

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.3%

11. Rehabilitation care, fitting of prostheses, and adjustment of devices

11. Rehabilitation care, fitting of prostheses, and adjustment of devices

Rehabilitation includes "services that help you keep, get back, or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired because you were sick, hurt, or disabled."

Average cost per stay: $13,777

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.1%

Advertisement

10. Acute cerebrovascular disease

10. Acute cerebrovascular disease

Cerebrovascular disease impacts the blood flow in the brain and often results in strokes.

Average cost per stay: $15,111

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.6%

9. Fracture of neck of femur (hip)

9. Fracture of neck of femur (hip)

Breaks in the neck of the femur are common among athletes and elderly individuals with osteoporosis.

Average cost per stay: $16,043

Percent of all US hospital stays: 0.9%

Advertisement

8. Osteoarthritis

8. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis — or degenerative joint disease — is the wearing down of tissue between joints.

Average cost per stay: $16,149

Percent of all US hospital stays: 2.9%

7. Septicemia

7. Septicemia

Septicemia — or sepsis — is blood poisoning caused by a bacterial infection.

Average cost per stay: $18,244

Percent of all US hospital stays: 3.6%

Advertisement

6. Respiratory failure, insufficiency, arrest (adult)

6. Respiratory failure, insufficiency, arrest (adult)

Respiratory failure and insufficiency happens when the lungs cannot produce enough oxygen or expel enough carbon dioxide. Respiratory arrest is the cessation of breathing.

Average cost per stay: $18,287

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.1%

5. Spondylosis, intervertebral disc disorders, other back problems

5. Spondylosis, intervertebral disc disorders, other back problems

Spondylosis refers to any degeneration of the spine. Invertebral disc disorders is the breakdown of the discs inbetween the bones of the spine.

Average cost per stay: $18,375

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.6%

Advertisement

4. Coronary atherosclerosis

4. Coronary atherosclerosis

Coronary atherosclerosis is a heart disease caused by plaque buildup in arteries, preventing proper blood flow.

Average cost per stay: $19,657

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.3%

3. Complication of device, implant or graft

3. Complication of device, implant or graft

Devices, implants, and grafts are placed in the body during surgery to correct a clinical condition.

Average cost per stay: $19,669

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.8%

Advertisement

2. Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)

2. Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)

Acute myocardial infarction is the medical name for a heart attack.

Average cost per stay: $20,086

Percent of all US hospital stays: 1.7%

1. Heart valve disorders

1. Heart valve disorders

Heart valve disorders is a catch-all term for any illness stemming from the improper use of any of the four heart valves that controls blood flow.

Average cost per stay: $41,878

Percent of all US hospital stays: 0.3%

Advertisement