#30: A Medical Bill

According to Forbes, it costs about $18,865 to give birth in the United States today. That includes healthcare expenses during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Back in 1954, it was a lot cheaper to give birth. This hospital bill from Raymondville Memorial Hospital in Texas shows a $66.95 bill for delivery, X-ray, lab, and baby’s two-day stay in the hospital nursery. 

The US Inflation Calculator says that a 1954 bill for $66.95 is equal to $767.60 in 2024. That’s quite a bit of money, but it sounds a lot more manageable than $18,000! The Raymondville Memorial Hospital is no longer open, making this mint-condition bill even more of a relic from the past. Time and money are wild.