MEDICAL CARE PRICES

During the second quarter of 1963 the index of medical care prices reached a record high of 116.8 (1957-59-100), an increase of 0.9 percent from the preceding quarter. The sharpest increase occurred in hospitalization insurance, which increased 2.2 percent to a new high of 141.7.

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Price Indexes for Selected Items and Groups, annual averages and quarterly indexes. See "Medical Care in the Consumer Price Index, 1936-56," Monthly Labor Review, September 1957. The consumer price index was converted as of January 1962 from the 1947-49 = 100 reference base to the new base 1957-59 = 100. Formerly designated "Hospital Room Rates." Includes charge to full-pay adult inpatients for routine nursing care, room and board, and minor medical and surgical supplies. 2/ Formerly designated "Group Hospitalization." 3/ December 1958-100. 4/ Limited to prescriptions (an APC or aspirin, phenacetin, caffeine citrate compound; elixir turpenhydrate with codeine; and buffered penicillin) and over-the-counter drugs (aspirin tablets, milk of magnesie, and multiple vitamin concentrate) prior to March 1960, this prescriptions and drugs index was expanded by linking into the index prescriptions appropriate to each of seven end-use classes (anti-infectives, sedatives and hypnotics, marnetics, antispasmodics, antiarthritics, cough preparations, cardiovasculars and antihypertensives).

CONSUMER PRICES

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

Mr. E. F. Tremayne, 78, has asked me to write of his experience since he has difficulty in holding a pen. He is spending 11 percent of his income of $182 a month for insurance for 80 percent hospital coverage. A severe illness 12 years ago, cancer, made it imperative to carry this insurance since most of his savings have been spent on doctor bills and medicine. He has real need for the protection the King-Anderson bill would give him.

Very truly yours,

Mrs. LUCY COBB.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

My husband had a stroke and has been sick and had to quit his job 6 years ago. After 5 years on social security we ran out of money and had to sell our house and go into the housing project.

Mrs. OTTO JOHNSON.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

I have had cancer twice in the last 7 years resulting in two big operations and a long stay in the hospital with numerous complications. I have had to spend my life's savings and am now in the process of selling my home to cover medical expenses and living costs. I am sure there must be many more who find themselves in this same position. Passing this bill would be a blessing to all in need of medical care.

Mrs. LUCILLE SABAN.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

I have heard that the King-Anderson health bill will be up for discussion in a few days. I will say that this bill is a must as so many of us senior citizens that have some bad reverses in our lives, such as sickness and death. In 1950 my wife had a serious heart attack. She passed away. The doctor, hospital, and mineral baths were very high. In 1958 I had a heart attack. The doctor and hospital took all my savings. I am 75 years old and cannot work. There are thousands of senior citizens that are in the same condition that I am and we must have the King-Anderson bill passed.

ARTHUR HANSON.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

Following is an account of the recent experience that I had with hospitals and hospital expenses and hospital insurance.

My wife suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on March 20, 1963, and was hospitalized in N.W. Hospital until May 8. The hospital bill came to the amount of $2,302.45. The two insurance companies that carried our insurance paid $1,681.45, leaving me to pay $621. On May 8 we transferred her to Asbury Methodist Hospital where she was confined until her demise on June 28. The hospital bill there was $777.80, no part of which the insurance company would pay, claiming it, the Asbury Methodist Hospital, was not a hospital within their definition, in that they did not do surgery, although they are equipped as a hospital in every way except surgery. You can realize that the amount I was required to pay, $1,398.80, was a terriffic strain on my little nest egg we had laid away for a rainy day. Medical care under social security would have been a godsend. Thank you for listening to my experience.

A. C. CATHCART.

HARRISON, ARK.

My daughter-in-law, Opal Badgley, Harrison, Ark., asked me to write telling some of my experience with hospital insurance. I am drawing social security at $32 a month. I paid on an insurance policy for years, then the time came I needed surgery. The insurance company paid only a part of the hospital bills. Then the company put a rider on my policy, saying they would not pay for any more abdominal operations and so ended that policy.

Another experience was with an accident policy. I lifted a gate to get it opened. I had to have surgery for a hernia, but couldn't collect anything on