Trends - Health spending rebound continues in 2002

U.S. health care spending climbed to $1.6 trillion in 2002, or $5,440 per person. Health spending rose 8.5 percent in 2001 and 9.3 percent in 2002, contributing to a spike of 1.6 percentage points in the health share of gross domestic product (GDP) since 2000. Hospital spending accounted for nearly a third of the aggregate increase. During the past three decades, per enrollee spending for a common benefit package has grown at a slightly slower average annual rate for Medicare than for private health insurance, with more pronounced growth differences recently reflecting legislated Medicare reimbursement changes and consumers' calls for more loosely managed care.