Where Are Our Healthcare Dollars Being Spent?
The first question is so hugely complicated there may not be enough bandwidth on the internet to analyze it and address it in writing. The second question was addressed in a recent study published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and related in easier to read fashion in a joint Kaiser Health News/Washington Post article.
In 2010, Americans spent @ $1.3 TRILLION on healthcare (This addresses direct payments for care provided during the year. It jumps to $2.8 TRILLION when you include health care goods and services, public health activities, government administration, the net cost of health insurance, and investment related to health care).
1% of the population accounted for 21% of the $1.3 TRILLION spent.
5% accounted for 50% of all healthcare expenditures. And, 10% are credited with 66% of the healthcare spend.
Contrast that with the 50% of the folks in the U.S. that accounted for less than 3% of the costs.