The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) is a set of
large-scale surveys of families and individuals, their medical
providers, and employers across the United States. MEPS is the most complete
source of data on the cost and use of health care and health insurance
coverage. Learn more about MEPS.
New Publications
In 2006, U.S. adult consumers spent $130.8 billion on five therapeutic classes of prescription drugs. Expenditures on metabolic agents (drugs to lower blood sugar, reduce cholesterol, or help with other metabolic problems) ranked first at $38.1 billion, followed closely by cardiovascular agents (drugs for reducing high blood pressure and treating heart conditions) at $33.1 billion. The remaining three therapeutic classes that topped expenditures were central nervous system agents ($28.2 billion), psychotherapeutic agents ($17.5 billion), and hormones ($14.0 billion). These purchases accounted for 62.8 percent of the total $208.1 billion spent on all prescribed drug medicines. —From Statistical Brief 232: Statistical Brief 232: The Top Five Therapeutic Classes of Outpatient Prescription Drugs Ranked by Total Expense for Adults Age 18 and Older in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2006
New Tabular Data
MEPS summary tables present 2006 national estimates from the Household Component of the MEPS survey in tabular form. Except for State-Level Medical Expenditure Tables, the following tables are customizable (marked by ) and offer the ability to analyze populations by age, gender, race/ethnicity, health insurance status, poverty status, geographic criteria (i.e., metropolitan statistical area and census region), and perceived health status.
New Analytical Tools
Nationally representative statistics of health care use and expense from the MEPS 2006 year of data collection can now be generated in MEPSnet/HC, the survey's guided, data analysis tool. The online tool offers analytical access to some of the data available on the 2006 MEPS consolidated public use data file without the use of statistical software.
New Data
MEPS releases the Panel 10 Longitudinal Data File, a two-year panel file comprises persons representing those who were in the MEPS population (U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized) for all or part of the 2005-2006 period. Variables on this file are useful for developing cross-sectional type estimates for the two-year period.
To access a list of all the latest items posted on our Web site,
visit What's New.
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) and offer the ability to analyze populations by age, gender, race/ethnicity, health insurance status, poverty status, geographic criteria (i.e., metropolitan statistical area and census region), and perceived health status.