Costs of Medical Care and Existing National, State, and Private Pay Avenues for Families

Health care costs are projected to account for 19.3% of gross domestic product in the United States in 2019, and rising health care costs are causing greater financial burdens on families. Health insurance protects families from high medical costs in case of illness. There is concern that rising health care costs are leading to high burdens even among families with health insurance. This discussion summarizes the private and public health insurance options available for nonelderly families, presents the increase in health insurance premium costs since the year 2000, and discusses current medical care costs by family insurance status, family size, and family structure. It concludes with a presentation of the burden of medical care costs on the family, defined as the share of family income ...