State report
Wisconsin hospitals: prices, quality and finances report
Updated November 11, 2026
#12of 52 states overall How states are ranked
141hospitals, with 64,901 Medicare stays
$4.11typical list price for every $1 of cost 26th highest of 51 states
64%of rated hospitals hold 4 or 5 CMS stars 4th highest share of 52 states
2 h 16 mintypical ER visit US typical 2 h 28 min
Compared with the country as a whole, Wisconsin's list prices are lower than the US typical, more hospitals earn top quality ratings and ER visits are about as long.
More on Wisconsin:All hospitalsBest hospitalsCost estimatorStates rankedOther states
WisconsinUnited States
List price per $1 of cost
$4.11US $4.74
Billed, compared with paid
3.8×US 5.0×
Hospitals with 4 or 5 stars
64%US 41%
Patients who would recommend
76%US 71%
Typical ER visit
2 h 16 minUS 2 h 28 min
Charity care, share of costs
1.2%US 1.8%
Wisconsin typical: $4.11
Most common hospital stays in Wisconsin
| Stay | Medicare stays | Typical bill | Typical paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sepsis, with major complications | 7,778 | $50,090 | $15,465 |
| Heart failure, with major complications | 4,850 | $34,440 | $10,151 |
| Lung infection, with major complications | 1,870 | $46,092 | $12,888 |
| Sepsis | 1,778 | $31,328 | $8,426 |
| Pneumonia, with major complications | 1,776 | $34,936 | $10,557 |
| Respiratory failure | 1,552 | $37,453 | $9,978 |
| Stomach or intestinal bleeding, with complications | 1,310 | $31,063 | $7,885 |
| Heart attack, with major complications | 1,191 | $47,313 | $12,460 |
2 of 141 Wisconsin hospitals have their own cash prices and insurer rates on this site so far; more are added every night.
Sources: CMS Medicare inpatient data, hospital cost reports and Care Compare; hospitals' own price files. "Typical" is the median hospital. Star shares leave out Veterans Affairs and military hospitals. How the numbers work.