Bob Herman February 21,
2019
Data: Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services and CIA World
FactBook; Note: All values adjusted for inflation as of 2018; Chart:
Harry Stevens/Axios
Americans spent $3.65 trillion on health
care in 2018, according to new preliminary
estimates from independent federal actuaries. That total is about
the same size as Spain and Canada's entire economies — combined.
Why it matters: U.S. health spending last year was 4.4%
higher than in 2017, a rate that is still growing faster
than the broader economy — which means more money is being taken out of people's paychecks
to pay for a system that continues to worry and frustrate patients.
By the numbers: That $3.65 trillion health care tab last
year translates to $11,121 per person.
- Spending on hospitals, doctors and
other clinic services was $2.16 billion, holding steady at 59% of total
health care spending.
- The spending category that
experienced the largest year-over-year increase was the general cost of
administering health insurance, which rose 7.7% in 2018.
- Spending on prescription drugs
purchased in retail pharmacies went up 3.3% in 2018, higher than the 0.4%
rate in 2017.
- A majority of the bigger spending
totals were due to higher overall prices, while the "use and
intensity" of health care services played a smaller role.
Three main conduits pay for health care services: Medicare,
Medicaid and private health insurance.
- Private health insurance continues
to fare the worst on controlling costs. Per-person spending among the
privately insured rose 4.5% in 2018 despite the fact enrollment in private
plans stayed flat.
- Per-person spending in Medicaid
and Medicare increased 1.1% and 3.1%, respectively, last year. Those
government programs pay lower provider rates than private insurers.
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