ABSTRACT
The cost of health care in the United States has reached astronomical heights. In 1995, approximately $1 trillion, or 14.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP), was spent on health care (“Future Targets,” 1996). In 1998, these costs increased to $1.1 trillion and accounted for 13.5% of the GDP (see Levit et al., 2000). These costs rose to $1.31 trillion (13.3% of the GDP) in 2000, and then increased 8.7% to $1.42 trillion (14.1 % of the GDP) in 2001 (“Health Care Costs,” 2003). The most recent projections are that between 2001 and 2011 the national health expenditures will grow at an average annual rate of 7.3%, or 2.5% faster that the GDP (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2002). Thus, it is estimated that by 2011, health care costs will reach $2.8 trillion, or approximately 17% of the GDP.
