Increased Medical Costs
Patients with the lowest activation scores—having the least skills and confidence to actively engage in their own health care—incurred costs up to 21 percent higher than patients with the highest activation levels.
Source: Health Affairs/RWJF
Saving on Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Nearly 4 million Medicare recipients received $2.1 billion in discounts for out-of-pocket prescription drugs in 2011, for an average savings of $604 per person under the Affordable Care Act. The health care reform law requires drug manufacturers to provide discounted brand name drugs to seniors and people with disabilities and the act subsidizes generic drugs.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Cost of Chronic Illnesses
Americans are living longer, but also with chronic illnesses that limit a person's functional status, productivity, and quality of life. The medical costs of people with chronic illnesses represent 75 percent-or $1.5 trillion-of the $2 trillion spent annually in the U.S. on health care. An aging population is expected to increase the health care challenges of the chronically ill.
Source: Institute of Medicine
More Than an Emotional Cost
Child abuse and neglect is a serious and preventable public health problem in the U.S., affecting more than 3 million children in reported cases and 1,780 deaths in 2008. The lifetime costs for each surviving victim of child maltreatment is estimated at more than $200,000, which is comparable to other costly health conditions such as stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Premiums on the Rise
Health care premiums for family coverage increased 50 percent from 2003 to 2010, and the employee share of premiums saw a 63 percent bump. If the trend continues at the rate prior to the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the average premium for family coverage will rise 72 percent by 2020 to nearly $24,000.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund
The Impact of Health Care Expenses
High health care expenses impact poor people at a rate of five times that of high-income earners.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
People with private non-group insurance are nearly three times as likely as people with private, employer-sponsored insurance to have high health premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Private Insurers Still Feel Effects of Health Disparities
Private insurers are not immune to the burgeoning costs of health disparities. Elevated rates of chronic illness among African Americans and Hispanics cost insurers an estimated $5.1 billion in 2009.
Source: The Urban Institute
Medicare Costs Magnified
As the Hispanic population ages, their impact on Medicare costs will magnify the most compared to other racial/ethnic groups, growing from $5.5 billion in 2009 to $16 billion by 2050 (in 2009 dollars).
Source: The Urban Institute
Chronic Illness Disparities at a Cost
Elevated rates of chronic illness due to health disparities will cost the U.S. health care system an estimated $337 billion from 2009-2018. About $220 billion of that cost will be incurred by Medicare.
Source: The Urban Institute
Family Premiums Skyrocket
From 1999 - 2009, family premiums for employer-sponsored health coverage increased by 131 percent, placing increasing cost burdens on employers and workers.
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation