Table 1. Distribution of Health Care Expenses for the U.S. Population, by Percent of Total: Selected Years, 1977-2002
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://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st81/stat81.pdf. Accessed April 7, 2006.
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