New York Medicaid Spends Double the National Average

Albany, N.Y.

A federal agency has reported that New York’s Medicaid program paid more than one-fifth — 21.6 percent — of all of the state’s health care expenses in 2003, more than twice the national average.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality compared health care expenditures in the 10 largest states to national averages. According to the report, 85.6 percent of the U.S. population had some expenses for health care.

Among the findings the agency reported:

• The national average for Medicaid was 9.2 percent.
• California’s Medicaid program paid 13.2 percent of the state’s total health care expenses; Texas’ program paid 10.8 percent.
• The average health care expenditure per capita in the country in 2003 was $3,082. Results ranged from $2,325 per capita in Texas to $4,020 per capita in Pennsylvania.
• The smallest proportions were in Illinois, at 3.9 percent, and Pennsylvania, at 4.4 percent.
• 42.4 percent of total health care expenses in the United States was paid by private health insurance; 19.6 percent was paid out-of-pocket.
• Some 85 percent of the U.S. population living outside of nursing homes, institutions and the military sustained health expenses in 2003.

“Many factors can influence health care expenses in a particular state, including the demographic, socioeconomic and health status characteristics of the population,” the report explained.

“Further,” the report continued, “the prevalence and types of health insurance coverage in a state can impact access to care, the level of expenditures and the extent to which different sources finance health care services.”