Rising out-of-pocket spending for medical care: a growing strain on family budgets

Rising out-of-pocket spending for medical care: a growing strain on family budgets

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Author(s):
Merlis, Mark, author
Gould, Douglas, author
Mahato, Bisundev, author
Contributor(s):
Commonwealth Fund, issuing body.
Publication:
[New York, N.Y.] : Commonwealth Fund, February 2006
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Cost Sharing -- statistics & numerical data
Health Expenditures -- statistics & numerical data
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Since the late 1990s, accelerated growth in health care spending has translated into increased burdens on family budgets. In 2001-02, an average of 13 million families per year had direct out-of-pocket (OOP) costs equal to or exceeding 10 percent of family income. When premium costs are added into the equation, even more families are devoting a substantial share of resources to health care expenses. Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to examine trends in family OOP spending between 1996-97 and 2001-02, this report examines the components of OOP spending and characteristics of families with high OOP costs, including income level and insurance coverage. Families struggling with high OOP expenses are more likely than other families to report difficulties in obtaining needed care, and often have trouble paying their bills--increasing the possibility that they may face debt or bankruptcy or drop coverage altogether.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (xi, 23 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
101269564 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101269564