Slide 3. The Economic Burden of Health Inequalities in the United States

Taking Action to Achieve Health Equity: Implications of the Affordable Care Act for Communities of Color

On April 13, 2012, Brian D. Smedley made this presentation at the meeting of the National Advisory Council.

Slide 3. The Economic Burden of Health Inequalities in the United States.

  • Between 2003 and 2006, 30.6% of direct medical care expenditures for African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics were excess costs due to health inequalities.
  • Eliminating health inequalities for minorities would have reduced direct medical care expenditures by $229.4 billion for the years 2003-2006.
  • Between 2003 and 2006 the combined costs of health inequalities and premature death were $1.24 trillion.

 

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Current as of August 2012
Internet Citation: Slide 3. The Economic Burden of Health Inequalities in the United States: Taking Action to Achieve Health Equity: Implications of the Affordable Care Act for Communities of Color. August 2012. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/events/nac/2012-04-nac/smedley/smedleyslide3.html