STATISTICAL BRIEF #470: Trends in the Five Most Costly Conditions among the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2002 and 2012

STATISTICAL BRIEF #470: Trends in the Five Most Costly Conditions among the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2002 and 2012

AHRQ Stats: Treatment Costs for Heart Disease and Cancer

Among the five costliest health conditions in both 2002 and 2012, average per-person treatment expenditures were highest for cancer and heart conditions. Treatment for heart conditions averaged $4,349 per person in 2012, an increase from the average cost of $4,243 in 2002. Cancer treatment costs averaged $5,631 per person in 2012 compared with $5,509 per person in 2002. Trauma-related disorders, mental disorders and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma also ranked among the five costliest conditions in 2002 and 2012. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #470: Trends in the Five Most Costly Conditions among the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2002 and 2012).

STATISTICAL BRIEF #470: Trends in the Five Most Costly Conditions among the U.S. Civilian  Noninstitutionalized Population, 2002 and 2012

April 2015

Anita Soni, PhD, MBA

Highlights

• The same five medical conditions—heart conditions, cancer, trauma-related disorders, mental disorders, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma—were ranked highest for medical spending in both 2002 and 2012.
• Heart conditions accounted for the highest total spending in both 2002 and 2012.
• The number of people with expenses for mental disorders increased from 31 million in 2002 to 45 million in 2012.
• Among these five medical conditions, mean expenditures per person were highest for cancer and heart conditions in both 2002 and 2012.
• The percentage of out-of-pocket expenses was highest for the treatment of mental disorders in both 2002 and 2012 among the top five most expensive conditions.