Study Finds Alaskans Spent Most Out-of-Pocket on Health Care Costs in 2019

State of Reform reports on a recent Health Affairs study that shows Alaskans spent more out-of-pocket dollars on health care costs than residents in any other state in 2019. The study examined spending variation across the US to determine that state-specific per-person spending ranged from $7,250 to $14,500 in 2019. US health care spending was highest in Alaska, where per-person spending was $14,500. Out-of-pocket spending represented 42% of the health care dollars spent in the state, which means more than $4 of every $10 spent on health care in the state came from out-of-pocket expenditures.

Read more:

• State of Reform: https://stateofreform.com/featured/2022/08/alaskans-spent-more-out-of-pocket-dollars-on-health-care-than-in-any-other-state/
• Varied Health Spending Growth Across US States Was Associated With Incomes, Price Levels, And Medicaid Expansion, 2000–19. Health Affairs. August 2022.