Trends in health care spending

American Medical Association March 20, 2023

Health spending in the U.S. increased by 2.7% in 2021 to $4.3 trillion or $12,914 per capita. This growth rate is substantially lower than 2020 (10.3% percent). This substantial deceleration in spending can be attributed to the decline in pandemic-related government expenditures offsetting increased utilization of medical goods and services that rebounded due to delayed care and pent-up demand from 2020.

Overall, health spending was 18.3% of GDP in 2021 compared with 19.7% of GDP in 2020.

Policy research perspective

A new AMA Policy Research Perspective provides an in-depth look at U.S. health spending in 2021.

Policy Research Perspectives: National Health Expenditures, 2021: Decline in pandemic-related government spending results in 8-percentage point decrease in total spending growth (PDF)

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