AHRQ Stats: Out-of-Pocket Spending Among Seniors

Among seniors with Medicare and additional public coverage such as Medicaid, inflation-adjusted out-of-pocket payments for medical care decreased from an average of $1,253 in 2000 to $427 in 2014. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #500: Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenses for Medical Services, by Insurance Coverage, 2000-2014.)

STATISTICAL BRIEF #500:
Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenses for Medical Services, by Insurance Coverage, 2000-2014

February 2017

Marc I. Roemer, MS

Highlights

Among the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population with an expense, the percentage of persons with any out-of-pocket payment for medical care decreased between 2000 and 2014.
The average percentage of expenses paid out of pocket also decreased between 2000 and 2014 for all categories of insurance coverage examined.
The average annual out-of-pocket payment decreased or remained unchanged compared to 2000 for all categories of insurance coverage examined except for persons under age 65 with any private insurance, whose average annual out-of-pocket payment increased from $592 in 2000 to $656 in 2014.
Among categories of insurance coverage examined, the most substantial change in the average annual out-of-pocket payment occurred for the elderly with Medicare and other public coverage, decreasing from $1,253 in 2000 to $427 in 2014.