Hospital Costs Vary Up to 2.5 Times

Patients can be charged up to 2.5 times more for surgery depending on the hospital.

The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service on Sunday released data showing surgery costs and duration of stay at 682 hospitals for 38 diseases including 13 cancers.

In the case of general hospitals, mostly affiliated with universities, the surgery costs for six major cancers varied as much as 2.5 times, and the length of hospital stay 3.6 times. The data is available at HIRA's website (www.hira.or.kr).