Total U.S. health care spending hit $4.3 trillion in 2021: CMS

During the peak COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the U.S. spent nearly $4.3 trillion on health care, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, reports BenefitsPro. Government insurance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, made up 42%, or $1.8 trillion, of national health care spending in 2021, CMS said. Private insurance programs, including employer-sponsored plans and plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act, made up 28% of spending, or about $1.2 trillion.