Americans spent $1.26 trillion on healthcare in 2009, and a mere 1% of the population spent almost 22% (or an average of $90,061 a year) of the overall healthcare expenses, according to a survey from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Those most likely to be among the top 10% of healthcare spenders are white women ages 45 and older. So why are women eating up such a large part of the healthcare spending pie? “You’re more likely to have a health problem the longer you live, and women live longer than men,” says Alina Salganicoff, Ph.D, vice president and director of Women’s Health Policy and KaiserEDU.org at the Kaiser Family Foundation. Moreover, women are more likely than men to have chronic health conditions such as COPD or mental illness that require extra care and therefore cost more money, says Dr. Steven B. Cohen, Ph.D., co-author of the survey’s research brief and director of AHRQ’s Center for Financing, Access and Cost Trends. “Women are also more likely to use healthcare services and go to the doctor than men, and costs for their services are typically higher,” says Dr. Cohen. Not surprisingly, those who spent the least on healthcare were most likely to be in excellent overall health, young, or uninsured, the survey found. (The data for 2010 and 2011 is still being analyzed.) A big part of driving down healthcare costs is to avoid getting sick, so healthy lifestyle habits such as daily exercise and eating unprocessed food high in fiber are key. Another important step for saving on healthcare? “It’s important to know about your health insurance plan’s benefit options and understand what your out-of-pocket expenses will be so you can make an informed decision about which policy is best for you,” says Dr. Cohen. “I think when we move into 2014 and the health insurance exchanges are set up, there will be more information available to make navigating your choices easier.” To find out more about the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in March 2010 and calls for all Americans to buy health insurance, visit the Health Reform in Action site.
