The High Concentration of U.S. Health Care Expenditures

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Chart 1. Percent of Total Health Care Expenses Incurred by Different Percentiles of U.S. Population: 2002

Bar graph shows percent of total expenditure by percent of population: Top 1% (greater than or equal to $35,543), 22%; Top 5% (greater than or equal to $11,487), 49%; Top 10% (greater than or equal to $6,444), 64%; Top 20% (greater than or equal to $3,219), 80%; Top 50% (greater than or equal to $664), 97%; Bottom 50% (less than $664), 3%.

Source: Conwell LJ, Cohen JW. Characteristics of people with high medical expenses in the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population, 2002. Statistical Brief #73. March 2005. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. Web site: http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st73/stat73.pdf. Accessed April 7, 2006.

Note: Figures in parentheses are expenses per person.

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