Skip to page content

The Burden of Health Care Costs

In this video, Katherine Carman, senior economist with the RAND Corporation, discusses the burden that health care costs impose on families, the different types of payments that people make towards health care, and the portion of taxes that supports health care.

Learn More

Burden of Health Care Payments Is Greatest Among Americans with the Lowest Incomes
Higher-income American households pay the most to finance the nation's health care system, but the burden of payments as a share of income is greatest among households with the lowest incomes.
Jan 27, 2020
2018 National Survey of Health Attitudes
This survey seeks to understand how people in the United States think about, value, and prioritize health. Results indicate that many Americans recognize the influence of social and physical factors on health, but one in four do not consider investment in community health a top priority.
May 1, 2019
How Do Consumers Make Choices in ACA Marketplaces?
Consumers have access to compare a variety of health insurance plans before selecting the one that best suits their needs. But the task can be complicated by difficulty understanding health insurance jargon, poor numeracy, inadequate decision-support tools, and too many choices.
Jun 28, 2016
Building a National Culture of Health
As part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health initiative, RAND developed an action framework to achieve the goal of enabling everyone in the United States to lead healthier lives, now and for generations to come.
Mar 11, 2016