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Medical expenditures for disability and disabling comorbidity
1Institute for Health & Aging, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0612.
American Journal of Public Health
|May 1, 1992
Summary
Individuals with multiple chronic conditions face significantly higher healthcare costs. Those with two or more disabling conditions incurred 5 times the medical expenses compared to individuals with no limiting conditions.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Public Health
- Chronic Disease Management
Background:
- Disability and comorbid conditions represent a substantial financial strain on healthcare systems.
- Previous estimates of healthcare expenditures associated with disability are crucial for resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the healthcare expenditure burden associated with disability and comorbid chronic conditions.
- To compare per capita medical expenditures across different levels of functional limitation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the 1980 National Medical Care Utilization and Expenditure Survey.
- Calculation of per capita medical expenditures for noninstitutionalized individuals based on reported limiting conditions.
Main Results:
- Total medical care expenditures for noninstitutionalized persons were $154 billion ($691 per capita) in 1980.
- Per capita medical expenditure for individuals with two or more disabling chronic conditions was $2456.
- This expenditure was 5 times higher than for those with no limiting conditions ($486) and 1.5 times higher than for those with one limiting condition.
Conclusions:
- Disabling comorbidity is a major driver of high healthcare costs.
- Targeted interventions for individuals with multiple chronic conditions could yield significant healthcare savings.