National health expenditures, 1983

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• National Health Expenditures
• Public Health Finance

Background:

• National health spending continues to represent an increasing share of the gross national product.
• In 1983, health expenditures reached 10.8% of the GNP, equating to $1,459 per capita.
• Public programs played a substantial role in financing personal health care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present updated estimates of national health spending for calendar year 1983.
• To provide revised measures of benefits disbursed by private health insurers.
• To analyze the contribution of public programs to overall health care expenditure.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of national health expenditure data for 1983.
• Estimation of per capita health spending.
• Review of public program (Medicare, Medicaid) benefit outlays.
• Incorporation of revised private health insurance benefit data.

Main Results:

• Health spending constituted 10.8% of the gross national product in 1983.
• Per capita health spending in 1983 was $1,459.
• Public programs financed 40% of all personal health care spending.
• Medicare and Medicaid benefits totaled $91 billion, representing 29% of personal health spending.

Conclusions:

• Despite slower growth, national health spending's share of GNP continued to rise.
• Public programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, were major contributors to health care financing.
• The findings highlight the significant economic impact and public funding of health care in 1983.