Economic Burden of Health Care

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  • Gold dollar signs surrounding a map of the United States

    Project

    Small Ideas for Saving Big Health Care Dollars

    Mar 8, 2016

    Big proposals to rein in health care spending in the United States have encountered stiff political and organizational resistance. But adopting a combination of smaller ideas could save the U.S. health care system a total of up to $26 billion a year.

  • old hands on walking stick

    Project

    Dementia Blueprint

    Jun 23, 2014

    Annual costs of dementia exceed those of cancer and heart disease and will only continue to rise as the nation's population ages. Key policy options can help strengthen and improve long-term services and supports for those with dementia and their caregivers.

Explore Economic Burden of Health Care

  • Ezekiel J. Emanuel delivers the 2018 Albert P. Williams Lecture on Health Policy at RAND's Santa Monica headquarters, October 17, 2018, photo by Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation

    Blog

    Why Are Drug Prices So High in the United States?

    Ezekiel J. Emanuel is vice provost for global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy. In 2018, he delivered the Albert P. Williams Lecture on Health Policy at RAND, where he offered a framework for thinking about drug pricing.

    May 3, 2019

  • Medical illustration for Albert P. Williams Lecture on Health Policy

    Multimedia

    Albert P. Williams Lecture on Health Policy: What's the Fair Price of a Drug?

    In this Events @ RAND podcast, Ezekiel J. Emanuel delivers the 2018 Albert P. Williams Lecture on Health Policy. Emanuel explains why drug prices are so high and proposes a policy solution.

    Oct 17, 2018

  • A woman on an MRI machine talking to her doctor

    Commentary

    Extending Marketplace Tax Credits Would Make Coverage More Affordable for Middle-Income Adults

    Paying for health care coverage is a challenge for Americans facing rising premiums, deductibles, and copayments. The ACA's tax credits that make marketplace insurance more affordable for lower-income individuals should be extended to middle-income adults aged 50–64.

    Jul 27, 2017

  • New mother resting in maternity room after childbirth

    Commentary

    Effects of Removing Maternity Care and Mental Health Treatment from Coverage Requirements

    The American Health Care Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act allows states to waive benefits that the ACA deemed “essential.” Dropping maternity care coverage, for example, would reduce premiums by 5 percent but increase out-of-pocket spending for new mothers.

    May 18, 2017

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Child Poverty in the United States Today: Introduction and Executive Summary

    This executive summary summarizes what is known about the scope of childhood poverty in the United States today, as well as its effects on health and well-being for U.S children.

    Apr 20, 2016

  • An elderly person's hands on a doctor's desk next to a stethoscope

    Commentary

    What Happens If the ACA's Tax Credits Are Replaced with Premium Support?

    As policymakers consider alternatives to reduce the federal government's financial burden from providing subsidies under the ACA, they should consider the consequences for enrollees. Existing premium-support models yield considerable savings for the federal government but could create age and income disparities in coverage.

    Nov 24, 2015

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Roles of Prices, Poverty, and Health in Medicare and Private Spending in Texas

    Variation in private spending reflects the ability of the local population to pay for healthcare, whereas variation in Medicare is more driven by health status.

    Jul 7, 2015

  • Supporters of the Affordable Care Act celebrate after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Obama administration, Washington, DC, June 25, 2015

    Commentary

    Why Obamacare Lives

    Economic reasoning took center stage in the Supreme Court's decision on Thursday to uphold the legality of the Affordable Care Act's subsidies in all states. The subsidies are critical to ensuring that healthy people, with lower health care costs, have adequate incentive to enroll.

    Jun 26, 2015

  • A young woman cares for her elderly grandmother

    Research Brief

    The Cost of Elderly Caregiving

    Family members and friends spend 30 billion hours each year providing care for their elderly loved ones. These caregivers are giving up valuable time, either from their jobs or from other potentially productive activities. What is the annual price tag of this informal care—and how might it be offset?

    Jan 20, 2015

  • News Release

    News Release

    Who Pays for Health Care in Vermont Under the Current System

    If Vermont considers further health care reform proposals, legislators might look for opportunities to better align the degree of subsidization available for individuals with similar incomes, regardless of whether they are enrolled on the exchange or in employer coverage.

    Jan 14, 2015

  • A stethoscope rests on a credit card.

    Report

    A Look at Health Care Spending in Vermont As It Weighs Reform

    Most Vermont residents receive more in health benefits than they pay for directly or through taxes. Those with lower incomes pay less for health care than those with higher-incomes but there is much variation, something legislators may wish to review as they consider implementing universal health coverage.

    Jan 8, 2015

  • News Release

    News Release

    Consumers Who Buy Subsidized Health Plans May Face Higher Costs When More Choices Are Available

    For people who buy subsidized coverage through marketplaces created under the ACA, those who live in areas with more plan offerings may have to pay a higher premium to receive the same deductible when compared to consumers in regions with fewer options.

    Jan 6, 2015

  • News Release

    News Release

    Cost of Informal Caregiving for U.S. Elderly Is $522 Billion Annually

    The price tag for informal caregiving of elderly people by friends and relatives in the U.S. comes to $522 billion a year. Replacing that care with unskilled paid care at minimum wage would cost $221 billion, while replacing it with skilled nursing care would cost $642 billion annually.

    Oct 27, 2014

  • A son, father, and grandfather fishing from a dock

    Commentary

    Demographics Add Urgency for Action on Dementia Long-Term Care

    Dementia takes a huge toll on those afflicted with it but also has major consequences for those who must care for them. More than 15 million Americans provide care for loved ones with dementia—tending to their daily, routine needs and ensuring their medical needs are met.

    Jul 28, 2014

  • Infographic

    Infographic

    Dementia's Mounting Toll on the U.S. Economy

    Dementia costs Americans hundreds of billions of dollars per year, and the annual cost could top half a trillion by 2040 due to the 'graying' of the U.S. population.

    May 27, 2014

  • Close up of pills/drugs on US dollar health care spending

    Commentary

    Is the ACA Keeping a Lid on Growth in Healthcare Spending?

    Some point to the healthcare spending slowdown as an early success of the Affordable Care Act. Others warn that it's merely a hangover from the recession, and that the inevitable spending rebound will be exacerbated by the ACA coverage expansions.

    Apr 3, 2014

  • Senior man and adult daughter enjoying time together over lunch

    Journal Article

    Cost of Informal Caregiving for U.S. Elderly Is $522 Billion Annually

    The price tag for informal caregiving of elderly people by friends and relatives in the U.S. comes to $522 billion a year. Replacing that care with unskilled paid care at minimum wage would cost $221 billion, while replacing it with skilled nursing care would cost $642 billion.

    Jan 1, 2014

  • pills and money on American flag

    Research Brief

    Will the Affordable Care Act Make Health Care More Affordable?

    For most lower-income people who obtain coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act, health care spending will fall. But spending by some newly insured higher-income people will increase because they will be now paying insurance premiums.

    Dec 11, 2013