You can fairly accurately predict, plan and budget for all those niceties you want to include in your family's lifestyle. To some degree, yes. Once you've assessed your family's healthcare needs, you can start thinking about how to most economically meet its healthcare expenses. Inpatient means you are checked into a hospital bed for at least one full day.
Outpatient is all other services, typified by the office visit.
Without hospitalization insurance, even a short hospital stay will strain your finances. A long or more involved stay will cause financial ruin. Because it makes your decision easy. The decision to buy insurance gets more complicated when it comes to outpatient healthcare. This is where your assessment of your family's risk of incurring non-preventative healthcare services comes in handy.