Indiana hospitals are achieving measurable progress in health care affordability, with multiple national reports showing steady declines in costs, improved rankings, and lower prices compared to other states.
National Rankings Show Indiana Hospitals are Making Care More Affordable for Hoosiers
Indiana hospitals are making meaningful strides in health care affordability, with several national studies showing a clear downward trend in Indiana health care costs and hospital prices.
Recent rankings from WalletHub show Indiana’s steady improvement. In 2025, the state ranked as the eighth best in the nation for health care costs—up from 15th best in 2021. This four-year improvement reflects the impact of hospital-led efforts to make care more cost-effective for Hoosiers.
A 2024 Forbes report also highlights Indiana’s progress, ranking the state 24th out of 50 in health care costs—an improvement of 13 spots from its 2023 position as the 11th highest cost state. This shift underscores the broader impact of pricing reforms and cost containment strategies across Indiana’s hospitals.
“Indiana hospitals are committed to making care more affordable without compromising quality,” said IHA President Scott B. Tittle. “These rankings reflect the hard work and collaboration happening across the state to lower costs and improve access for Hoosiers.”
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Indiana has consistently ranked at or below the national average in employer-based health insurance premiums since 2020. This stability suggests that reductions in hospital costs are helping to keep premiums in check for families and businesses.
Hospital pricing is showing a clear downward trend in the RAND Corporation’s studies as well. Indiana moved from being the most expensive state in the RAND 2.0 report in 2019 to ninth in RAND 5.1 in 2024 – surpassing eight other states in health care affordability in just 5 years. While the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) has raised concerns about RAND’s methodology, the RAND study has reflected Indiana’s consistent improvement across reports, pointing to meaningful progress.
Tittle emphasized Indiana’s progress compared to other states. “Indiana’s trajectory stands out nationally,” he said. “We’re making measurable improvements relative to the rest of the country.”
As health care costs remain a top priority at the state and national level, Indiana’s hospitals are demonstrating that consistent, long-term investment in affordability works – and can deliver real results for patients and communities.
Learn More:
Fact Sheet: Health Care Affordability
Fact Sheet: Recent Healthcare Rankings and Pricing Studies
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