Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditures in the United States


Attention: There is an updated edition available for this report.

Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditures in the United States

Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditures in the United States examines the average person’s out-of-pocket medical costs, including:

  • Distribution of Out-of-Pocket Spending for the Average Person, 2016, 2021
  • Consumer Out-of-Pocket Expenditures per Worker, 2011–2021
  • Consumer Out-of-Pocket Expenditures by Type, 2011–2021
  • Proportion of Consumer Out-of-Pocket Spending by Type of Healthcare Expenditure, 2011, 2016, 2021
  • Average Share Paid Out-of-Pocket by U.S. Residents with Healthcare Spending by Percentile of Total Health Spending and Type of Service, 2016
  • Average Share Paid Out-of-Pocket by U.S. Residents with Healthcare Spending by Type of Service, 2016
  • Consumer Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditures by Payment Type, 2016
The report contains analysis and forecasts to 2021. It details consumer mechanisms of outlay by amount of spending, including loans and lines of credit, flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), credit cards and cash or check. Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditures in the United States also outlines expenditures by type, including the consumer costs of prescription medications, office-based procedures, and hospital stays.


  • Executive Summary
    • Overview
    • Payment Methods
    • Prescription Medications
    • Forecast
      • Table Consumer Out-of-Pocket Expenditures per Worker, 2016 and 2021 (in $)
  • Introduction: Out-of-Pocket Expenditures, the Market in 2017
    • Types of Expenditures
      • Insurance Co-Payments
      • Direct Payments
      • Premiums and Plan Fees
    • Payment Methods
      • Table Consumer Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditures by Payment Type, 2016
      • Cash or Check
      • Credit Cards
      • Loans and Lines of Credit
      • Flexible Spending Accounts
      • Health Savings Accounts
    • Amount Financed
      • Non-Elective Procedures and Prescription Drugs
        • Table Average Share Paid Out-of-Pocket by U.S. Residents with Healthcare Spending by Type of Service, 2016
        • Table Average Share Paid Out-of-Pocket by U.S. Residents with Healthcare Spending by Percentile of Total Health Spending and Type of Service, 2016
        • Table Distribution of Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Spending for the Average Person, 2016
        • Table Distribution of Out-of-Pocket Spending for the Average Person, by Spending Level, 2016
        • Table Drug Cost Coverage by Payor Type (Public, Private, Cash): 1965, 1986, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2016
    • Consumers Who Pay Out-Of-Pocket
      • The Uninsured and Underinsured
      • Medicaid Recipients
      • The Disabled
      • Senior Citizens
      • The Mentally Ill
      • The Obese
        • Table Obesity in the United States, 1980 – 2021
      • Persons with Alcohol and Drug Addictions
        • Table National Overdose Deaths from Prescription Drugs, 2001 - 2014
        • Table National Overdose Number of Deaths from Heroin, 2001 - 2014
      • Persons with Chronic Conditions
        • Table Type of Insurance Coverage for Adults between the Ages of 18 and 65 with Chronic Conditions, 2016
  • Market Analysis: Growth from 2016 - 2021
    • Trends
      • Out-of-Pocket Expenditure Growth Drivers
      • Out-of-Pocket Expenditure Growth Constraints
    • Forecasts
      • Table Consumer Out-of-Pocket Expenditures per Worker, 2011–2021 (in $)
      • Expenditures by Type
        • Table Consumer Out-of-Pocket Expenditures by Type, 2011–2021 ($ Billion)
        • Table Proportion of Consumer Out-of-Pocket Spending by Type of Healthcare Expenditure, 2011, 2016, 2021
      • Payment Methods
        • Table Consumer Out-of-Pocket Expenditures by Type, 2011–2021 ($ Billion)
        • Table Proportion of Consumer Out-of-Pocket Spending by Payment Type, 2011, 2016, 2021
      • Amount Financed
        • Table Amount of Consumer Out-of-Pocket Expenditures That Are Financed, 2011–2021 ($ Billion)
      • Types of Expenses Financed
        • Table Distribution of Out-of-Pocket Spending for the Average Person, 2016, 2021
        • Table Proportion of Consumer Out-of-Pocket Spending for Non-Elective Procedures That Is Financed (All Methods), 2016 – 2021
      • Consumers Who Pay Out-of-Pocket
        • Table Size of High Risk Groups for High Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditures, 2011–2021 (Millions of Persons)

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