Health Spending Grew 4.6% in 2018, Outpaced by Overall Economy

HealthLeaders Media December 5, 2019
Jack O'Brien

The total number of uninsured people rose by 1 million for the second consecutive year.

Healthcare spending in the U.S. grew by 4.6% in 2018, totaling $3.6 trillion, according to data released Thursday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary.

Healthcare, as a share of the overall economy, slipped to 17.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, down slightly from 17.9% in 2017.

The statistics, published in Health Affairs, show that healthcare spending averaged $11,172 per person in 2018, while the total personal healthcare spending growth rate held steady at 4.1%.

National healthcare spending increased faster in 2018 than it did in 2017, but it equaled the rate seen in 2016. CMS attributed...

Today's Sponsors

Today's Sponsor