The High Concentration of U.S. Health Care Expenditures

You Are Here: AHRQ Home > Research Findings > Research in Action > The High Concentration of U.S. Health Care Expenditures

Chart 2. Percent of Total Health Care Expenses Incurred by Top 5 Percent of Health Care Spenders Within Different Age Groups: United States, 2002

Bar graph shows percent of total expenditure by age in years: 18 and under, 5%; 19-34 years, 9%; 35-44 years, 10%; 45-54 years, 15%; 55-64 years, 18%; 65-79 years, 29%; 80 and over, 14%.

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.

Return to Document