| Percent of U.S. population ranked by expenses |
1977 | 1980 | 1987 | 1996 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 1 percent | 27% | 29% | 28% | 28% | 22% |
| Top 5 percent | 55% | 55% | 56% | 56% | 49% |
| Bottom 50 percent | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Sources: Berk ML, Monheit AC. The concentration of health expenditures: an update.
Health Aff (Millwood) 1992 Winter; 145-9.
Yu WW, Ezzati-Rice TM. Concentration of
health care expenses in the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. Statistical Brief
#81. May 2005. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. Web site:
http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st81/stat81.pdf. Accessed April 7, 2006.