Age differences in health care spending, fiscal year 1975

This report of health care spending in fiscal year 1975 reveals that of the $103.2 billion spent by the Nation for personal health care, 15 percent was spent for those under age 19, 56 percent for persons aged 19-64, and 29 percent for those aged 65 or older. The average health care bill for the oldest group was $1,360; it was $472 for the intermediate age group and $212 for the young. Third-party payments met 71 percent of the aged group's health care expense and 66 percent of the health expenditures of persons under age 65. Public funds paid for one-fourth of the health expenses of the young, nearly one-third of the health bills of those aged 19-64, and two-thirds of those of the aged. Medicare alone paid 72 percent of the hospital expense for the aged and 54 percent of their doctor bills. The average direct payment by the consumer amounted to $390 for those aged 65 and older and $128 for persons under age 65.