US Healthcare Costs 11-14-25

1970 $74.1B   Hospitals sold to corporations

1975 $132.7B

1980 $253.2B Cost Shifting

1985 $439.9B

1990 $718.7B

1995 $1.02T

2000 $1.366T

2005 $2.027T 181 Rural Hospitals closed

2010 $2.59T Obamacare

2015 $3.166T

2020 $4.154T

2023 $4.867T 

https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/u-s-spending-healthcare-changed-time/#Total%20national%20health%20expenditures,%201970-2023

In 1965, Medicare coverage began to cover retirees at age 65. Medicaid coverage began for low-income patients.

In 1970, Catholic Hospitals were being sold to corporations. Catholic Nuns kept costs low. Orders of Nuns offered Nursing Degrees and were paid $50 per month plus food, shelter, medical care and transportation. Budgets were helped with fundraising and donations.

In the 1980s, State-Funded Mental Hospitals were closed and patients were released to become homeless. Hospitals were required to treat all indigent patients. Hospitals shifted the cost to paying customers. County-Funded Hospitals were closed and became “hybrids”, funded by Medicaid and the States. 

Comments

Replacing Obamacare with Health Insurance Deregulation will allow Health Insurers to reduce coverage to “medically necessary” and costs will decline, so premiums can decline.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader