National Health Care Spending Increased 7.2 Percent In 2024 As Utilization Remained Elevated

Health Affairs 2026 Open access

Read full text
Authors: Micah Hartman, Anne B. Martin, David Lassman, Aaron Catlin, The National Health Expenditure Accounts Team
DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01683
Cited by: 14
References: 1

Abstract

Health care spending in the US reached $5.3 trillion and increased 7.2 percent in 2024, similar to growth of 7.4 percent in 2023, as increased demand for health care influenced this two-year trend. As in 2023, the use and intensity of health care goods and services continued to grow rapidly in 2024, particularly for hospital care, physician and clinical services, and retail prescription drugs. The insured share of the population remained relatively high in 2024, at 91.8 percent, after its peak in 2023 of 92.5 percent. Health care spending growth continued to outpace overall economic growth in 2024, and as a result, the health care share of the economy increased from 17.7 percent in 2023 to 18.0 percent in 2024.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Healthcare Policy and Management Healthcare cost quality practices COVID-19 and healthcare impacts

Publication details

Journal / source
Health Affairs
Publisher
Health Affairs Publishing, LLC
Volume
45
Issue
2
Pages
110–120
Publication date
14 January 2026
Language
EN