Healthcare dollar study: 5% of utilizers consume 50% of healthcare costs

[TVDOC]

http://www.emaxhealth.com/11306/new-study-where-healthcare-dollars-go

WASHINGTON, DC - According to a new study released on January 11 by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a mere 1% of Americans accounted for 22% of healthcare costs in 2009. Thus, each individual in that 1% group consumed about $90,000 healthcare dollars.

The report also noted that the top 5% of healthcare utilizers consumed 50% of healthcare costs: approximately $36,000 for each individual. Including the top 10% of healthcare utilizers, accounted for almost two-thirds of all healthcare costs. Overall, according to the report, Americans spent $1.26 trillion on healthcare in 2009.

According to the AHRQ report’s lead author, Steven Cohen, the findings can be used to predict which consumers are most likely to drive up healthcare costs and determine the best ways to save money. Although the report revealed that a small portion of the population drove up healthcare expenditures in 2009, it also contained a bit of good news: in 1996, the top 1% of the population accounted for 28% of healthcare expenditures. Mr. Cohen noted, "The actual concentration has dropped… That's a big change."

<excerpted>

The AHRQ analysis of the 10% of individuals with the highest healthcare expenses in both 2008 and 2009 found that:

Nearly 60% were women.
More than 40% were age 65 or older
Individuals aged 18 through 29 comprised only 3% of healthcare expenditures
More than 80% were Caucasian (including Latino)
Asians represented the smallest segment: just 2%.
 

Balance at link......

doc

[Gina]

Oh shit, they got wind of me 

[thundley4]

The AHRQ analysis of the 10% of individuals with the highest healthcare expenses in both 2008 and 2009 found that:

Nearly 60% were women. Men hate going to the doctor.
More than 40% were age 65 or older So?  60% were under 65.
Individuals aged 18 through 29 comprised only 3% of healthcare expenditures Yet under ObamaCare, they will be forced to cover the others
More than 80% were Caucasian (including Latino)Does that include illegal immigrants?
Asians represented the smallest segment: just 2%. Ancient Chinese Secret^TM
 

[obumazombie]

Somehow or another the Pareto principle applies here.

[Gratiot]

I saw that article mentioned elsewhere, certainly interesting.

[NHSparky]

Considering that, IIRC, one's healthcare expenditure is least 30 percent of their lifetime expenditure during the last year of life, hardly surprising.