SOURCE: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, National Health Expenditures, June 2012. Major government health programs include Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Defense, and Veterans health care. Compiled by PGPF.
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Out-of-pocket payments (those made directly by individuals and families, instead of through insurance companies) have declined as a share of total health care spending from about 30 percent in 1970 to just over 11 percent today. This change has been driven in part by the expansion in government health programs, particularly Medicare, which began paying benefits in 1965 and alleviated much of the financial burden of health care for seniors.
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Peter G. Peterson Foundation Chart Pack:
The PGPF chart pack illustrates that budget-making involves many competing priorities, limited resources, and complex issues. In this set of charts, we aim to frame the financial condition and fiscal outlook of the U.S. government within a broad economic, political, and demographic context. Download (.PDF)