Bob Greene 's son found the insurance bill from his father in 1947 . It was $ 50 , $ 100 in 2012 dollars . He says the price of a hospital bed in 2008 was $ 11,000 . Why is it so expensive now ? He says huge pricetag is partly due to advanced technology that has greatly cut infant mortality . Greene : I sent copies of Gary Bender 's childbirth bill to Hankins and Sprague . Some say not all costly procedures necessary , but outcomes are better now .
Bob Greene 's son found the insurance bill from his father in 1947 . It was $ 50 , $ 100 in 2012 dollars . He says the price of a hospital bed in 2008 was $ 11,000 . Why is it so expensive now ? He says huge pricetag is partly due to advanced technology that has greatly cut infant mortality . Greene : Some say not all costly procedures necessary , but outcomes are better now .