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CMW News: Caring for uninsured costs U.S. $56 billion, study finds

Case Management Weekly, August 27, 2008

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Uninsured Americans will leave an unpaid tab of $56 billion for healthcare this year, according to a recent study done by George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, and the Urban Institute think tank in Washington, DC.

These costs will be covered mostly by the government. A smaller portion, $30 billion, will be paid by the uninsured population out of pocket. The study also predicts that the uninsured would have used $122.6 billion more for healthcare services—for a total of $208.6 billion—if they had been insured. People with insurance normally use more healthcare services, according to the study.

Last year, healthcare spending accounted for $2.2 trillion, or 16.3% of the gross domestic product. Federal figures show that amount could double during the next 10 years, and could become more of the government’s responsibility, despite new programs to cut its costs.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

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