Odometers for Total National Healthcare spending, Total Medicare spending, and Total Private Health Insurance spending (1990-2040)

Source: Actuarial Research Corporation (ARC) analysis of the National Health Expenditure Accounts, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, released February 19, 2019.
Note: Historical and projected spending are based on annual estimates; automation between years based on averaged incremental increases.

Household Spending

Health spending per person is growing 2x faster than household income

Sources: Healthcare spending: ARC analysis of the National Health Expenditure Accounts, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, released December 6, 2018; Per capita analysis: applies U.S. Population estimates from Current Population Survey, U.S. Census Bureau; Median Household Income estimates: Current Population Survey, U.S. Census Bureau.

State Spending

44 states now spend more on Medicaid than K-12 education

Sources: West Health analysis of 1991-2018 National Association of State Budget Officers State Expenditures Reports.

Drug Prices

48 million people cannot afford their prescriptions today

Source: The U.S. Healthcare Cost Crisis, West Health-Gallup report released April 2, 2019.
Source: Drug Spending (Out of Pocket, Medicare and Total U.S.): ARC analysis of the National Health Expenditure Accounts, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, released February 19, 2019.
Note: Analysis applies to retail prescription drugs.

Hospital Prices

Hospital prices have grown 600% since 1990

Sources: ARC analysis of Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; New Car prices: ARC analysis of Auto and Truck Unit Sales, Production, Inventories, Expenditures, and Price, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Consequences

One in four risk their life by forgoing needed care due to costs

Source: The U.S. Healthcare Cost Crisis, West Health-Gallup report released April 2, 2019

U.S. infant death rate ranks third worst among developed nations

Source: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Health Statistics 2018

American life expectancy is 28th among 36 developed countries. And falling.

Source: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Health Statistics 2018, data from 1990-2016.

Household Spending

57 million Americans have cut back on household spending to pay for healthcare or medicine

Source: The U.S. Healthcare Cost Crisis, West Health-Gallup report released April 2, 2019

Even with employer health coverage, a family earning $45,000 a year must budget at least 20% of their income for health expenses, including premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Source: Analysis of the National Health Expenditure Accounts, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, released December 6, 2018

Family and Employer Healthcare Spending Calculator

Sources: Healthcare spending: ARC analysis of the National Health Expenditure Accounts, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, released February 2018 and December 6, 2018, along with additional data from the KFF Employer Health Benefits Surveys, AHRQ's Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (Household Component), and the Census Bureau's March Current Population Surveys.

45% of American adults say they are concerned that a major health event in their household could lead to bankruptcy

Source: The U.S. Healthcare Cost Crisis, West Health-Gallup report released April 2, 2019

State Spending

Since 1990, the share of state spending on Medicaid has doubled at the expense of education

Source: West Health analysis of 1991-2018 National Association of State Budget Officers State Expenditures Reports.

Prescription Drug Spending

Over $360 billion Is how much the U.S. spends today for prescription drugs

Source: ARC analysis of the National Health Expenditure Accounts, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, released February 19, 2019. Note: Analysis applies to retail prescription drugs.

Almost one in five forgo needed prescription drugs due to cost

Source: The U.S. Healthcare Cost Crisis, West Health-Gallup report released April 2, 2019.

Hospital Prices

By 2040, the average cost of a hospital stay will be three times the average cost of a new car.

Sources: Hospital prices: ARC analysis of Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; New Car prices: ARC analysis of Auto and Truck Unit Sales, Production, Inventories, Expenditures, and Price, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Business Impact

$810 Billion is how much employers will spend this year for employee healthcare.

Source: ARC analysis of the National Health Expenditure Accounts, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, released December 6, 2018.
Note: Includes private, federal, and state employer spending on premiums.