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Story of the Week  Share this article with a colleague! Click here for a Free trial to Jenks Healthcare Business Report
5 Percent Of Americans Account For More Than Half Of Healthcare Costs
The top five percent of Americans accounted for nearly half of all healthcare expenditures in the United States, a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) says. In contrast, half of the population spends little or nothing on healthcare, statistics show.
The 15 most expensive health conditions (the top five being heart disease, cancer, trauma, mental disorders, and pulmonary conditions) account for nearly half of total healthcare expenses, and patients with multiple chronic conditions cost up to seven times as much as patients with only one chronic condition.
Key findings from the report include the following:
- In 2008, 1 percent of the population accounted for 20.2 percent of total healthcare expenditures and 20.0 percent of the population in the top 1 percent retained this ranking. In 2009, the bottom half of the expenditure distribution accounted for 3.1 percent of spending in 2008; about three out of four individuals in the bottom 50 percent retained this ranking in 2009.
- Those who were in the top decile of spenders in both 2008 and 2009 differed by age, race/ethnicity, sex, health status, and insurance coverage (for those under 65) from those who were in the lower half in both years.
- Those in the bottom half of healthcare spenders were more likely to report excellent health status, while those in the top decile of spenders were more likely to be in fair or poor health relative to the overall population.
- While 15.5 percent of persons under age 65 were uninsured for all of 2009, the full-year uninsured comprised 25.9 percent of those in the bottom half of spenders for both 2008 and 2009. Only 3.6 percent of those under age 65 who remained in the top decile of spenders in both years were uninsured for all of 2009.
- Relative to the overall population, those who remained in the top decile of spenders were more likely to be in fair or poor health, elderly, female, non-Hispanic whites and those with public-only coverage. Those who remained in the bottom half of spenders were more likely to be in excellent health, children and young adults, men, Hispanics, and the uninsured.
MEPS-HC is a nationally representative longitudinal survey that collects detailed information on healthcare utilization and expenditures, health insurance, and health status, as well as a wide variety of social, demographic, and economic characteristics for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is cosponsored by the AHRQ and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Source: AHRQ, January 2012
Related stories:
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U.S. Healthcare Costs Continue to Climb for Fourth Month in a Row
Comorbidity Care Models: Integrated Action Plans for Complex Healthcare Needs
This 38-page special report presents emerging models of care for comorbidity, with a special focus on the needs of aging multi-morbid patients as well as those whose comorbidity encompasses physical and behavioral health conditions.
Comorbidity Care Models: Integrated Action Plans for Complex Healthcare Needs is available from the Healthcare Intelligence Network for $127 by visiting our Online Bookstore or by calling toll-free (888) 446-3530.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: This information is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information on the business of healthcare. It is distributed with the understanding that Healthcare Intelligence Network is not engaged in rendering legal advice. If legal advice is required, the services of a competent professional should be retained. | |
