(INDIANA) - New national rankings show Indiana making significant progress in lowering health care costs. The Indiana Hospital Association says multiple reports now place the state among the most affordable in the country for medical care.
WalletHub's latest data ranks Indiana 8th-best nationwide for health care costs, a jump from 15th in 2021. Forbes also moved Indiana up 13 spots in its 2024 cost ranking. Hospital leaders say the improvement comes from cost-cutting efforts, price transparency, and statewide reforms aimed at keeping bills in check. Employer health insurance premiums in Indiana have stayed at or below the national average since 2020.
Despite the progress, Indiana still ranks lower in areas like health care access and outcomes, including infant and maternal health and life expectancy.
State lawmakers have passed new laws to rein in hospital prices, require clearer medical billing, and enforce price caps to ensure affordability continues to improve. Officials say the overall trend shows Indiana "moving in the right direction" on making health care more affordable for families and businesses.