Age Differences in Health Care Spending, Fiscal Year 1974

This study of health care spending an fiscal gear 1974 reveals that, of the $90.3 ballaon spent by the Nation for persoltal health care, 15 percent was spent for the young (under age 19), 56 percent for persons 19-64, and JO percent for those aged 65 and over. The aged individual had the largest per capita medical ball, $1,218; the bzll auas $420 for a person an the intermedtate age group and $183 for a young person Third-par@ payments-by gocernment, private health ansurance, philanthropy, and andustrg-accounted for almost two-thirds of health ezpendatures for both the aged and those under age 65. Publac funds alone paad for nearly SO percent of personal health care spending for the two younger groups and 60 percent for the aged As an 1973, Medacare met 38 percent of the health ball for the oldest group The average direct payment rose $3 (to $117) for persons under age 65 and reached $415 ($26 higher tlkan in 1973) for the aged.