AHRQ Stats: National Health Care Spending

Of the $1.4 trillion spent on health care in 2013, about 38 percent of spending was for ambulatory care while about 28 percent was for hospital inpatient care and 22 percent was for prescription medicines. (Source: AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #491:National Health Care Expenses in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, Distributions by Type of Service and Source of Payment, 2013.)

STATISTICAL BRIEF #491:
National Health Care Expenses in the U.S. Civilian

Noninstitutionalized Population, Distributions by Type

of Service and Source of Payment, 2013

July 2016

Marie N. Stagnitti, MPA

Highlights

Hospital inpatient expenses accounted for nearly 30 percent of total health care expenses for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population, and prescribed medicines accounted for more than 20 percent.
Among persons under age 65, the uninsured and those with any private insurance had a larger proportion of their health care spending accounted for by ambulatory services (office-based visits, hospital outpatient care, and emergency room care) than those with public insurance only.
Among the elderly, those with Medicare and private insurance had a larger proportion of their health care spending accounted for by ambulatory services than those with Medicare only or Medicare and other public insurance.
Private insurance paid for 40.6 percent of total expenses, Medicare paid for 25.3 percent, individuals and family members paid for 13.8 percent, Medicaid/CHIP paid for 12.4 percent, and other sources paid for 7.9 percent.