Too Great a Burden 2009 Findings

A Report from Familes USA, April 2009

Too Great a Burden:
Americans Face Rising Health Care Costs

KEY FINDINGS

Introduction

Press
Release

Millions of Americans Are Affected by High Health Care Costs

64.4 million non-elderly Americans are in families that will spend more than 10 percent of their pre-tax income on health care in 2009. That’s nearly one in four non-elderly Americans (24.3 percent).
18.7 million non-elderly Americans are in families that will spend more than 25 percent of their pre-tax income on health care in 2009.

Millions of Insured Americans Are Affected

More than four out of five people (82.6 percent) in families that spend more than 10 percent of their pre-tax income on health care are insured.
53.2 million non-elderly Americans with insurance are in families that will spend more than 10 percent of their pre-tax income on health care in 2009.
More than three out of four people (76.4 percent) in families that spend more than 25 percent of their pre-tax income on health care are insured.
14.3 million Americans with insurance are in families that will spend more than 25 percent of their pre-tax income on health care in 2009.

High Health Care Costs: Middle Class Is Affected

Nearly two-thirds (63.5 percent) of people in families that will spend more than 10 percent of their pre-tax income on health care in 2009 are from families that earn more than $30,000 per year.
More than one-third (37.1 percent) of people in families that will spend more than 25 percent of their pre-tax income on health care in 2009 are from families that earn more than $30,000 per year.

A Growing Burden: More Americans with High Health Care Costs, 2000 to 2009

From 2000 to 2009, the number of people in families spending more than 10 percent of their pre-tax income on health care will grow by nearly 22.7 million—an increase of 54.4 percent.
From 2000 to 2009, the number of insured people in families spending more than 10 percent of their pre-tax income on health care will grow by nearly 20.0 million—an increase of 60.3 percent.
From 2000 to 2009, the number of people in families spending more than 25 percent of their pre-tax income on health care will grow by nearly 7.1 million—an increase of 60.6 percent.
From 2000 to 2009, the number of insured people in families spending more than 25 percent of their pre-tax income on health care will grow by more than 5.8 million—an increase of 69.1 percent.