How do health expenditures vary across the population?

Discussion of health spending often focus on averages, but spending varies considerably across the population Contribution to total health expenditures by individuals, 2013 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Out-of-pocket spending on health services is almost as concentrated as overall health spending Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Family spending is also very concentrated, with 10% of families accounting for half of spending Contribution to total health spending per family, 2013 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Most of the population reports being in good or better health Reported Health Status, 2013 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Among those reporting fair or poor health, there is considerable concentration of health spending Distribution of health spending among those reporting fair or poor health, 2013 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Considerable spending variation exists among the elderly, who see the highest proportion of health spending overall Distribution of health spending among elderly population (age 65+), 2013 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

People age 55 and over account for almost half of total health spending Share of total health spending by age group, 2013 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

While health spending increases throughout adulthood for both men and women, spending varies by age Average health spending by age and gender, 2013 * Indicates that, for the age range, the difference in estimates for males and females is statistically significant (p<.05) Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Diagnosis with a serious or chronic health condition is associated with higher spending Per capita health spending based on diagnosis status, in $U.S. Dollars, 2013 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Note: For all diagnoses shown, with the exception of asthma, diagnosis status was asked only of respondents age 18 or older. All respondents were asked about their asthma diagnosis status.

Whites have higher health spending in most age categories than people in other groups Average health spending by age and race/ethnicity, 2013 * Indicates that, for the age range, the difference from the average of other racial/ethnic groups is statistically significant (p<.05) Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

People with some insurance have much higher health spending than people who are uninsured all year Average health spending by age and insurance, 2013 * Indicates that, for the age range, the difference in estimates for the insured and uninsured is statistically significant (p<.05) Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

A substantial share of the population spends $200 or less out-of-pocket on health care services Average out-of-pocket spending in $US Dollars, 2013 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services