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Out-of-pocket health spending outpaces increases in income

Case Management Weekly, February 8, 2006

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Increases in families' out-of-pocket healthcare spending are outpacing increases in average family income, the Commonwealth Fund reported last week. The report said that between 1996 and 2002, out-of-pocket healthcare spending increased by an average of 35%, which far outpaced the 20% increase in average family income during that period.

 

The report also revealed that by 2002, 15% of families in the United States experienced high out-of-pocket healthcare costs. The report defined high costs as those that exceeded 10% of family income or 5% of income for low-income families. Low-income families were defined as those earning below 200% of the federal poverty level.

 

Source: Bureau of National Affairs

 



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