10 metros with highest, lowest healthcare spending per person
Per-person healthcare spending among people with employer-sponsored insurance averaged $6,711 nationally in 2022, though this figure varies significantly by geography, according to an April 9 report from the Health Care Cost Institute.
To compile the report, the nonprofit research institute analyzed spending data across 269 individual metro areas in 45 states, examining the price, use and mix of services for people with employer-sponsored insurance.
Prices accounted for the most spending variation across markets, and high outpatient hospital spending was the strongest predictor of overall spending. Of the 269 markets included in the analysis, 88% had highly or very highly concentrated hospital markets, where less competition tends to drive prices higher, according to the report. Only 3% of markets were unconcentrated and all in major cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City.
All 10 of the highest-spending metro areas had prices above the national average. In addition, of the 102 metros with above-average overall spending, 93 also had above-average outpatient spending.
10 highest-spending metro areas:
- Charleston, W.Va.
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Janesville, Wis.
- New York City
- Huntington, W.Va.
- Springfield, Ill.
- Racine, Wis.
- Green Bay, Wis.
- Champaign, Ill.
- Gettysburg, Pa.
10 lowest-spending metro areas:
- Bakersfield, Calif.
- Tucson, Ariz.
- Riverside, Calif.
- Fayetteville, Ark.
- Flagstaff, Ariz.
- Morristown, Tenn.
- Knoxville, Tenn.
- San Luis Obispo, Calif.
- Fort Smith, Ark.
- Johnson City, Tenn.
View the full report here.
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