Out-of-pocket health care spending rises 10%: Report

Medical research company Kalorama Information research shows total out-of-pocket healthcare spending by consumers was an estimated $491.6 billion in 2021, 10% higher than 2020, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. Factors behind the rising costs include managed care organization cost shifting, the Affordable Care Act's Individual Mandate Repeal, business and economic trends, and demographic trends such as obesity, aging and chronic conditions. Kalorama predicts that spending will increase annual increase of 9.9% through 2026.