Don't be so quick to blame insurance for getting people out of the hospital - there are a lot of doctors that will let you stay in the hospital because you don't want to go home. That's very expensive, so the doctors now have to justify why you are kept in the hospital. If there is a good reason to stay, then you stay. The studies show that getting out sooner is much better than later. It's the high costs of the medical payouts that increase the price of the insurance.