A new study of health care spending by researchers at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality appearing in the journal Health Affairs found that in 2002, “The public sector accounted for 56.1 percent of health spending within the civilian noninstitutionalized population.”
Tax subsidies made up 30? of every government dollar.
The study’s authors conclude that government pays for care of the sickest and oldest, and note that the amount spent on seniors does not include those who are institutionalized or the prescription drug benefit of Medicare Part D.
Another surprising conclusion: “Even among families with incomes greater than four times the poverty level, public spending accounted for 45.8 percent of total spending.”
